Tom Dumoulin excited for Amstel Gold Race return as Jumbo eye strong result with Laporte and Benoot

Jumbo-Visma have had strong classics campaigns in the last few years and are currently the defending champions at Amstel Gold Race. Wout van Aert won't be able to defend his title, however the team is nevertheless coming with high ambitions.

Dumoulin told Wielerflits about the ambitions coming into Amstel Gold Race, an event that is in his heart as it's his home region: “Because Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race have changed dates this year, the race finally fits into my program again. That's the only reason I can start now," Dumoulin said, "although I will leave for Tenerife on Monday, so that I can just finish a small three-week altitude camp there.” Dumoulin will be leading Jumbo's GC aspirations at the Giro d'Italia next month together with Tobias Foss, however he doesn't come without a hunger for result at today's race.

“The chances are slim that I end up on the podium. Especially in my current form. That's how realistic I have to be. As a cyclist, however, you will never tell yourself before a race that it won't work... So if you ask me now do you have a chance? Yes, I have a chance. That's how I start every race," he added. Jumbo will have Dumoulin as a card, but will be putting their focus mainly on Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte who have been having a brilliant cobbles classics campaign and will be looking to turn that into a result here.

With Primoz Roglic focusing on the latter Ardennes classics and Wout van Aert recovering from Covid-19, the team will have more freedom to race aggressively as they won't carry any responsibility to work in the peloton: “I will get a free role. Especially because we miss Wout van Aert and Primoz Roglic. With Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte we have two riders who are in good shape, but they are not exactly the top favorites either. So we go into the final with an open mind, where I also have a role."

Christophe Laporte has thrived so far in this season, and his win at Paris-Nice's opening stage is a good indicator that the Frenchman is very capable of going over the small but explosive hilltops in front. With a rather flat finale, it would play to Jumbo's advantage if he would be in good position in the final kilometers.

Jumbo Visma for Amstel Gold Race: Tom Dumoulin, Jos van Emden, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte, Mike Teunissen, Timo Roosen and Nathan van Hooydonck.