Breaking: Tom Dumoulin announces retirement from pro cycling

Tom Dumoulin has announced his retirement from pro cycling at the end of 2022 on his social media. The Jumbo-Visma riders has struggled with mental issues over the last few years, and has found himself in a position where he hasn't been able to rediscover his climbing abilities since returning in 2021.

Having won the 2017 Giro d'Italia, BinkBank Tour and the ITT World championships, Dumoulin has gotten himself to be one of the best stage-racers and time-trialists of his generation, having won stages on all Grand Tours and having finished on the podium on three separate occasions. He was a cornerstone in the transition of a time-trialist into a Grand Tour contender, and has been for many years one of the most popular riders in the peloton.

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He announced that "2022 will be my last year as a professional cyclist," and that he will "quit my active cycling instead and to take a new and unknown path." This comes after two years filled with physical issues which have seen him unable to reach his past heights, having said that "as soon as the load in training or racing gets higher, I suffer from fatigue, aches and injuries instead of improving." The mental blows that this constant state has dealt have left him to have "100% dedication" towards competition.

After returning to competition at the Tour de Suisse 2021, he managed to thrive in the time-trials - having finished second at the Olympics, and third at the UAE Tour and Giro d'Italia's TT's - but in the mountains he was never again at a high level.

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Between the appreciation for his fans, teammates, staff, etc. he has also pointed out that before he retired he will be targeting the time-trial World championships in Wollongong. He has said aswell that after retirement he does not yet know which path he will take, but that "my love for the bike will always keep me connected to the world of cycling one way or another."

Wielerflits reports that the Dutchman had interest from several teams - Team BikeExchange - Jayco; Trek - Segafredo; Alpecin-Fenix; Israel - Premier Tech and Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux - however it seems as if no transfer will be taking place at the end of the year.