Saturday, January 23, 2021
Departure from the training camp
Radstar just doesn't know what he wants to be
On Friday Tom Dumoulin will be presented as the top driver of his team for the Tour de France. The 30-year-old leaves the training camp on Saturday. The professional cyclist cites mental problems as the reason for his departure and first wants to take the time to answer important questions.
Dutch cycling star Tom Dumoulin is taking an indefinite break. As his team Jumbo-Visma announced, the former Giro winner and time trial world champion left the training camp to rethink his future in cycling at home. For the time being, the 30-year-old will not contest any races. Dumoulin explained his step with mental problems.
"I wanted to please everyone, wanted my team, my teammates, the sponsors, my family to be happy. I forgot something about myself," said the team-mate of German veteran Tony Martin in a video message: "The question What I want myself, whether I want to be a professional cyclist at all, has come up to me again and again in recent months, and I haven't found the time to answer it. "
"It feels so good"
Dumoulin, who had recently been thrown back by health problems, was presented by his team on Friday as part of a top three for the Tour de France (June 26th to July 18th) alongside the Slovenian Primoz Roglic and the Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk. Less than 24 hours later, Dumoulin pulled the emergency brake.
"I made this decision yesterday and the team confirmed it. It feels really good," said Dumoulin. "It's like a 100 kilo backpack has been taken off my shoulders. I'm immediately happy this morning Woke up. The decision to take time for myself feels so good – that says enough. "
Now he wants to find the answer to pressing questions for himself. "What do I actually want? What does Tom Dumoulin want to do with his life? Do I still want to be a racing driver? And how? Those are questions that have been simmering in me for a few months," said Dumoulin.
. (tagsToTranslate) sport (t) cycling