Tom Dumoulin to Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux? Aike Visbeek confirms interest, although with unexpected role

Tom Dumoulin will be retiring at the end of 2022, however his role within pro cycling is possibly not finished. Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert have an interest in the Dutchman, more specifically to use his expertise to raise the team's level in the time-trials further.

In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, the performance manager of the Belgium team Aike Visbeek has said that “someone who can take us to another level is Tom Dumoulin. You can expect a call from me. If he wants to lend us a hand, we will be happy to hire him."

“We can still make progress in the time trials. We are working with our Cube bicycle supplier to improve a series of components. That doesn't just require resources. You also need manpower for that," he said. And that's where Dumoulin can also come in, as one of the best specialists of this past generation - having won the World championships back in 2017 - his feedback can be immensely important for a team that has until now payed very little attention to such details.

Although being a team with still little tradition in having climbers and Grand Tour contenders, this year the team surprised even itself as Jan Hirt and Domenico Pozzovivo rode to strong positions at the Giro d'Italia, and Louis Meintjes equally surprised at the Tour de France to finish high in the standings. The team is looking to cover it's bases, now looking to eliminate a week spot in the time-trials.

As for Dumoulin, he's expected to return to competition next week at the Tour of Denmark as he looks to build up to the World championships where he'll ambition a medal in the time-trial.