"I even started to hate cycling" - Tom Dumoulin opens up on how he fell out of love with the sport

Tom Dumoulin might have been on top of the cycling world after winning the pink jersey at the Giro d'Italia in 2017, but he soon found himself consumed by the pressures and demands of the sport. Retiring at the age of 31 over five years later, the nine-time Grand Tour stage winner admits that he fell out love with the sport.

Dumoulin boasts an extensive palmares, with his Maglia Rosa also matched by a rainbow jersey after being crowned Individual Time Trial world champion later that year. A modern legend of the sport, many fans were surprised by his earlier than expected retirement.

But for the 35-year-old, the demands on the modern professional cyclist is something that wore down his love for the sport, making it difficult for him to continue. In fact, Dumoulin felt 'liberated' after retirement.

"I felt like I was constantly bending to the demands of others. Sponsors, fans, the team, the coaches," the Dutchman told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Everyone had a precise idea of ​​what I had to do. But no one asked me, 'Tom, how are you?' It was exhausting. I started to feel depressed. I even started to hate cycling. I hated the bike."

"I remember the day after I retired, I kept asking myself: What should I do today? What should I eat? What training should I do? I couldn't break out of that vicious cycle. For years, my life had been nothing but cycling. I felt liberated."

Now still close to the sport as a TV analyst, Dumoulin has re-found the joys of cycling and is enjoying his training. Stepping into the role of race director of the 2027 Amstel Gold Race, he'll be back on front of the bunch - albeit in an organiser's car.

"Yes. I've also started cycling again for training and fun. And I've also discovered running: I've taken part in several marathons. Plus, starting next year, I'll be the director of the Amstel Gold Race. Basically, I'm doing everything I would never have done as a cyclist. It's time to have fun and finally decide for myself what to do."

The Giro remains close to the Dutchman's heart, and if he was still riding, would have his eyes set firmly on stage 10 next Tuesday and a race against the clock. He said: "I would have loved that 42-kilometer flat time trial! It won't be decisive, but it will say a lot about the overall standings."

His former teammate Jonas Vingegaard and Team Visma | Lease a Bike are the heavy favourites for general classification. While acknowledging the chances of rising star Giulio Pellizzari as the great Italian GC hope, Dumoulin can't see past Vingegaard adding the Giro to his Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana crowns.

"I can only say Jonas Vingegaard. He won two Tours, beating Pogacar, and also a Vuelta. If he has no problems, he will win the Giro and complete the triple crown," he said.

Dumuolin added: "He's [Pelllizzari] good, and I really hope for you Italians that he can do it. I know how much you believe in him and how much you've been waiting for an Italian winner since 2016. But Jonas is one of the greatest. He beat Pogacar. And Visma is now the most advanced team in the world."