"From a support rider to one of the best in the world": Tom Dumoulin admits he didn’t see Jonas Vingegaard as a multiple Grand Tour winner when they were teammates

Tom Dumoulin has paid tribute to Jonas Vingegaard’s remarkable rise from loyal domestique to two-time Tour de France champion, admitting he never imagined the Dane would go on to dominate cycling’s biggest race.

The Dutchman, who retired in 2022 at just 31, shared a team with Vingegaard at Jumbo-Visma during the latter years of his career. Even then, Dumoulin says, the talent was obvious — but the transformation that followed was on another level entirely.

“I could say yes, but honestly, no,” Dumoulin told AS when asked if he thought Vingegaard would one day win multiple Grand Tours. “He was always a great rider, but the step he’s taken is incredible. I really admire his strength and dedication. He changed his mindset completely — from being a support rider to one of the best cyclists in the world.”

That sense of awe extends to the modern peloton more broadly. Cycling has evolved at such a rapid pace that even a rider as analytical and physically gifted as Dumoulin feels relieved to have hung up the bike when he did. “It’s so scientific and intense now,” he said. “It already was before, of course, but now it’s incredible to see how good cyclists have become. I’m actually glad I’m not a rider now — and I have a lot of respect for those who are.”

For all his admiration of Vingegaard, Dumoulin can’t help but marvel — and occasionally sigh — at Tadej Pogacar’s sheer dominance.

“What he’s doing is unbelievable — and sometimes a bit boring,” he admitted. “It’s amazing to watch possibly the greatest rider ever, but when he attacks with 75 kilometres to go, you just think, ‘OK, that’s it’. The race is over. It’s still incredible to watch, but I’d like to see a bit more suspense sometimes.”

The Tour de France battles between Pogacar and Vingegaard have redefined cycling’s modern era, and Dumoulin — a Giro d’Italia and world time trial champion himself — knows just how hard it is to compete at that level.

Beyond the big two, Dumoulin also believes the sport is entering an intriguing phase — particularly with young talents like Spain’s Juan Ayuso on the rise.

“Spain will always produce good riders because it has such a rich history, but the last few years have been tough,” he said. “I have high hopes for Juan Ayuso. He’s a huge talent who still has things to learn to reach the level of Pogačar or Vingegaard, both physically and as a leader.”

Ayuso’s recent switch from UAE Team Emirates - XRG to Lidl-Trek caught many by surprise, but Dumoulin thinks it’s exactly the right move. “He’s ambitious — he doesn’t want to be a domestique, that’s clear. He wants to be a leader, and I think this move is best for both him and the team. I completely support it.”

Dumoulin’s own life after cycling appears far from the intensity of the WorldTour. Since his retirement, he’s rediscovered the joy of sport without the suffocating pressure of results.

“I’m really enjoying it. Life is good, and I’ve never once thought about coming back,” he said. “I’m happy and proud of my career, even the difficult years towards the end — they shaped me as a person. I think I needed those tough years, and now I’m genuinely happy.”

That happiness now comes through a different kind of endurance. Dumoulin has swapped the peloton for pounding the pavements — and made an impressive marathon debut in Amsterdam last October, clocking 2:29:21.

“I love sport in general, but running is something I really enjoy,” he said. “My goal was to go under two and a half hours, and I did it. Now it’s just for fun. My dream would be to run the New York Marathon one day. I know I can improve my time, maybe by ten minutes, but I don’t want to be a professional again.”

From Grand Tour glory to marathon milestones, Dumoulin’s reflections show a man entirely at peace with life after cycling — one still captivated by the sport, but relieved to be watching it from the outside rather than living it from the saddle. “Writing my book reminded me how much fun cycling can be,” he added. “So I’d say: read it — and then go out for a ride yourself.”