Tom Dumoulin's Giro preparation suffering as health issues keep arising

After a successful return to pro cycling in June of last year, with a medal in the Olympic Games time-trial, the national time-trial championship and a Top10 at the Benelux Tour, Tom Dumoulin has teased a return to his Grand Tour ambitions in 2022 as he will be eyeing the Giro d'Italia.

“We didn't think before the start of the stage that Tom wouldn't finish today. We knew that he is not yet at the top level at the moment. On the way he indicated that he was not feeling well. We now have to see what we can do in consultation with the medical staff," team DS Merijn Zeeman said at the end of stage three of the Spanish race where Dumoulin was set to test himself and his form ahead of his return to the Grand Tours.

Dumoulin started off his season with great signs after a third place in the UAE Tour time-trial. However in the mountain stages that followed, the Dutchman reported back pain as he failed to be a part of the GC fight as expected. He hasn't showed the same potential this week in Spain, as he struggled through the opening days before abandoning the race, not quoting the exact reason for his departure.

With the Giro d'Italia - where he will be on paper leading Jumbo-Visma alongside Tobias Foss - starting in less than six weeks, there is still time to make up for lost form. However, the signs are not the best. Dumoulin is scheduled to be at his home race Amstel Gold Race in mid-April, and will have an altitude camp at some point throughout the month in order to ramp up his fitness for the Grande Partenza in Budapest.