Tom Dumoulin will miss Tour de France
Tom Dumoulin has confirmed that he will miss the 2019 Tour de France. The knee injury he sustained at the Giro d’Italia will keep him out of competition. Team Sunweb confirmed in a press release that the Dutchman will miss next month’s Grand Tour ‘after a physically challenging run up to the race.
He crashed on Stage 4 of last month’s Giro sustaining an injury to his right knee. He abandoned the next day. It was expected that Dumoulin would recover and focus on the Tour de France.
The plan seemed to be coming together when he was on the start list at the Criterium du Dauphine. However, he only managed to complete six stages before pulling out to allow recovery time for his injuries.
From there he attempted to head to the Alps to complete an altitude camp but pulled out questioning whether he was ready to return to racing.
Dumoulin had the following to say:
‘The last month has been extremely difficult overall, and with the setbacks in the knee recovery. After what happened at the Giro I really wanted to go for it in the Tour, but this week I realised it’s just not realistic for my level to be there in time’
‘I’ve tried so hard to get there but I really have to listen to my body and release myself from chasing an unrealistic goal.’
The absence of Dumoulin along with Chris Froome means that only one rider from last year’s podium, winner Geraint Thomas, will be on the Tour start line.
