Teams & Riders Tom Dumoulin discussion thread

[Carols]

Re: Re:

He has proved to be a better podium contender compared to other GC hopefuls like Majka, Chaves, all current Dutch climbers. Hope he can sustain.

He's exactly what Tejay should've been yet failed to ever be (not just talking about this year either).

You hit the nail on the head. Tejay unfortunately is just not of the same quality as Tom.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

there wasn't anybody here even discussing the possibility. the entire leadup to the vuelta was dominated by discussion of the prologue sandy ttt course, criticism of sky's criticism of the sand, and of course the 40% or so of posters on here who only talk about contador.

 

[phil-i-am]

I'm totally amazed how this Tom guy seems to get stronger and stronger as the race goes on. This is the first time he's forcing himself to constant effort over three weeks and I did think he'd eventually blow up. The climb wasn't hard today, but still, Aru managed to ride everyone off his wheel barring Tom.
Who would've thought he could ride like that. Looks like serious GC star in making. Vuelta is such a strange race

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

I think if Dumoulin wants to win this Vuelta he can't sit back and be defensive and just react to what Astana/Katusha/(Movistar) do. He and his team should try to be on the offensive and create opportunities for him.

Completely agree! He needs to pick his spots carefully and go on the offensive, I can't imagine just sitting in Aru's wheel the next 3 days (or attempt to) will win him this Vuelta.

One day is gone, tomorrow is easy so just one left. To me it looks like he could sit in Aru's wheel until Christmas.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

I think if Dumoulin wants to win this Vuelta he can't sit back and be defensive and just react to what Astana/Katusha/(Movistar) do. He and his team should try to be on the offensive and create opportunities for him.

Completely agree! He needs to pick his spots carefully and go on the offensive, I can't imagine just sitting in Aru's wheel the next 3 days (or attempt to) will win him this Vuelta.

One day is gone, tomorrow is easy so just one left. To me it looks like he could sit in Aru's wheel until Christmas.

He looked great today. Hopefully its encouraging that Aru can't even slightly trouble him at 5% gradients, which is what most climbs in the Sierre Madrilena are.

I think if Aru wants to win he was to go on the penultimate climb saturday. Only one that might be steep enough.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dumoulin's comment was clear "After the first attack by Aru I knew I would keep red today"

 

[the sceptic]

Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

I always knew he was a massive talent ever since I saw him ride a TT in sandshoes a few years ago.

 

[Escarabajo]

Other riders in GC have more chance than Aru to detach Dumoulin.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Other riders in GC have more than chance than Aru to detach Dumoulin.

They might have better chances to detach the man but he'll be attached to Aru until Madrid.

 

[classicomano]

Re:

Dumoulin's comment was clear "After the first attack by Aru I knew I would keep red today"

His confidence is at an all time high.

 

[classicomano]

Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

No but I was always certain that Dumoulin would reach heights like this, but this season he suddenly progressed alot faster than I anticipated. Though I think there was some French sports journalist who predicted Tom would podium after he got second in that stage behing Chaves.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

The only way I can see him losing is on bonus seconds now. He seemed the strongest today.

 

[Forunculo]

The terrain before the climb was a critical point but Astana did a good job for Tom

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re: Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

I always knew he was a massive talent ever since I saw him ride a TT in sandshoes a few years ago.

 

[l.Harm]

It reminded me a little of Di Luca vs Menchov. Yes I know it was different, but still.

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

Jean-Claude Leclercq!

 

[huge]

Re:

Dumoulin's comment was clear "After the first attack by Aru I knew I would keep red today"

Don't forget that at this point these guys are also playing a psycological game, not just racing bikes.
I wouldn't expect him to say anything different, even if he was about to being dropped by Aru and just managed to hang on. Cat and mouse game. We'll never know whether today he was really confortable on Aru's wheel, as he looked, or he was fighting for dear life. Perhaps in his biography in 20 years time

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

Dumoulin's comment was clear "After the first attack by Aru I knew I would keep red today"

Don't forget that at this point these guys are also playing a psycological game, not just racing bikes.
I wouldn't expect him to say anything different, even if he was about to being dropped by Aru and just managed to hang on. Cat and mouse game. We'll never know whether today he was really confortable on Aru's wheel, as he looked, or he was fighting for dear life. Perhaps in his biography in 20 years time

True. But to be fair, he did look really comfortable.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This is what we thought 5 years ago
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3675&p=175112&hilit=dumoulin+tom#p175112

and
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8744&p=274313&hilit=dumoulin+tom#p274313

this one is funny as well
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13056&p=490519&hilit=dumoulin+tom#p490519

 

[jens_attacks]

Seeing him today, i think he wins this. He gets extra watts, he's just getting better and better

Gotta say that he's a creepy fella, aitor gonzalez like
It won't surprise me to hear that in the future he will rob banks and stuff.

 

[jens_attacks]

Only way for aru to win is to do a heras colladiela 2005
Send 2 astana up front and drop him on the descent while risking his life
Unlikely too

Only zaka could beat dymoulin in the future, me thinks

 

[Poursuivant]

Is this going to be the first GT he finishes?

 

[Miburo]

Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

Just like with froome and armstrong no one saw it coming.

 

[akrogirl]

Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

I thought he had a good chance of making the podium, and I have my husband as a witness ;-)

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

Did anyone, anywhere, fan or within the sport, predict this performance from Dumoulin?

I thought he had a good chance of making the podium, and I have my husband as a witness ;-)

Before the start though? And be honest!