Tom Dumoulin questions FDJ – Suez tactics at Amstel Gold Race: “Didn’t you put your cards on the wrong person?”
Cycling
Tom Dumoulin has expressed strong criticism of FDJ – Suez and
Demi Vollering’s performance at the Amstel Gold Race, following a surprising
turn of events in the women’s edition of the Dutch Classic.
Rather than being shaped by the pre-race favourites, the
race saw a large group of shadow contenders break away and battle it out for
victory. Notably absent from the group was Vollering, but her teammates
Juliette Labous and Amber Kraak were present. Their decision to push on left
Dumoulin baffled.
Speaking to NOS, the former Giro d’Italia winner said,
"I didn't understand it at all. We had that group of more than 20 men
ahead, with all the shadow favorites together. But not the absolute top
favorites."
Dumoulin singled out FDJ – Suez's tactics in particular, "Vollering
was not there on behalf of FDJ, but we did see Amber Kraak riding at full speed
in the lead. While she only has Labous as her second rider.
“And that while SD Worx is there with three men. Including
Lorena Wiebes, who you certainly do not want to take with you to the finish. So
they did gamble that Labous would drop Wiebes and actually everyone else
anyway."
While Labous managed to momentarily distance Wiebes, it
wasn’t enough, "She rode Wiebes off on the Geulhemmerberg, but then she
doesn't get away alone. And then you end up in a situation where you see the
race slipping out of your hands and Labous ends up fourth in the sprint and
then you have nothing," Dumoulin continued.
He questioned the logic behind leading the chase when
Vollering, their top rider, was not in the front group, "If there are
three men from SD Worx and you have your absolute leader – Vollering – in the
group behind, then as far as I'm concerned you can tell SD Worx that they can
sort it out themselves. They didn't do that. They took control of the race with
two men. To be completely honest, I didn't understand it."
Looking back at how the race ended, Dumoulin suggested
FDJ–Suez may have backed the wrong strategy, "I am very curious to hear
what team manager Lars Boom has to say about this. Vollering does win among the
favorites.
“She rode away on the Cauberg and crossed the finish line
with a slight lead over the rest. Vollering appears to be the best of the
favorites. Didn't you put your cards on the wrong person?"
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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