"This would make me happy" - Tom Dumoulin certain 2023 Giro route would favour him well

Tom Dumoulin had a dramatic but successful stint at the Giro d'Italia in 2017, when he conquered the title with great performances on both mountains and time-trials. He's commented on this year's route which features almost 70 kilometers against the clock and talks of one that would suit him very well.

“This is a mediocre Giro that was made for me. This would make me happy. Just take out all those climbs.” Dumoulin told AD before analyzing the ideal mindset for the race. “As a GC rider, you don't want to be completely on all 21 days. You want to hit the time trial and hit the mountain stage. be led by the Giro.”

The Dutchman only took the decisive pink jersey on the final day that year which ended with a time-trial. He managed to survive the many attacks in the mountains from the likes of Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali, but played his cards right. He knows the Alps very well, having trained and raced on them on many occasions. He is aware that the route will be brutal and include several mountain stages where minutes could be lost.

“You can only lose on such a day. There will be no major differences, but they are also typical Giro days where anything is possible," he added. "Experience counts on those days. There is always a classification rider, for example the number 6, who then wants to hurt number 4. But a little later everyone is attacking each other. As I said: a terrible day."