If there was one word to sum up Tom Dumoulin’s attitude to how he will possibly fare in what remains of this year’s Vuelta a Espana, it would be - cautious.
The Giant-Alpecin leader knows that he is widely forecast to take the Vuelta lead in Wednesday’s 39km time trial, and aware that interest in whether he will become his country’s first Grand Tour podium finisher since Erik Breukink took third in the 1990 Tour is steadily rising.
For the last two weeks, for example, there have been one or two Dutch journalists on the Vuelta at most - but for Tuesday’s rest day, the total had suddenly soared to double figures, and the number will surely continue to rise should Dumoulin continue to shine.
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The million dollar question is, of course, can Dumoulin win the Vuelta, something which would make him the first Dutch winner of a Grand Tour since Joop Zoetemelk way back in the 1980 Tour.
“It could happen, maybe it couldn’t happen” was Dumoulin’s cagey response. “Let’s say I take the lead tomorrow, it could happen. Two minutes [roughly race leader Joaquim Rodriguez advantage on the Dutchman] is a lot of time, and it’s not as easy [to take back that time] as some journalists think.”
Either way, Burgos' 38.7km is only one part of a fraught finale of the Vuelta, Dumoulin points out, given there are three mountainous or hilly stages to come. “I’m going to do my best, but there’s three days to go until Madrid after the time trial. And although my team is strong and very committed, they’re not the strongest squad here on the climbs. If I take it [the lead], it’s going to be very difficult to defend.”
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