Tom Dumoulin: On the wave of success with Team Sunweb

With the switch from Team Giant-Alpecin to Team Sunweb in 2017, the course seems to have been set for permanent success. His goal this year is to win the Giro d'Italia again. The Tour de France comes only second. Why did he decide to do this and what distinguishes the Dutchman?

by Bruno Fleckenstein

He has long been known in his homeland and was named Cyclist of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016. This was followed in 2017 by the honor of Dutch Sportsman of the Year, which can be traced back to his legendary victory in the Giro d'Italia. Victory in both the individual and team time trials at the Road Cycling World Championships in September crowned 2017 as his most successful year as a professional cyclist.

At the end of May 2017, he was made a Knight of Orange-Nassau on behalf of King Willem Alexander for his extraordinary achievement. At the same time, an event was held at the City Hall Market Square in Maastricht, where he was honored for his success in becoming the first Dutchman to win the Giro, and thousands of fans, including many dressed in pink leotards, cheered him on and celebrated their hero as he lifted the Giro d'Italia trophy.

His qualities as a person and driver
His qualities as a time trialist were first brought to the attention of the general public in 2014 at the World Road Cycling Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, when he won his first bronze medal in the individual time trial. A year later, he won the time trial at the Tour de Suisse and the Vuelta. In 2016, he was again the winner in his parade discipline at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. He is a time trial specialist and this discipline is also the basis of his success.

To be at the front of the pack in a time trial, you need not only the physical...