Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) had always insisted he did not have the form or preparation to be an overall contender at this year's Giro d'Italia and the efforts of his successful but intense opening week finally caught up on the hilly roads to Sestola. A worsening saddle sore problem only compounded his pain, with the Dutchman perhaps ready to quit the race so as not to comprise his build up for the Rio Olympics.
Dumoulin was dropped from the front group on the late Pian del Falco climb after first passing through Sestola. He quickly lost ground and time, finishing 70th, some 13 minutes down on stage winner Giulio Ciccone (Bardiani-CSF).
"It was a hard day and it was a little bit too much for me," Dumoulin admitted to journalists after stopping beyond the finish line to let the pain ease from his body and put on a jacket before descending to the Giant-Alpecin team bus lower down the climb.
ADVERTISEMENT
"After six hours of racing everyone is tired. My saddle sore was not too good today. It was worse at the beginning and then better near the end. I'd hoped to have recovered more on the rest day…"
Dumoulin slipped to 29th in the overall classification, 11:42 on new race leader Bob Jungels (Etixx-Quickstep).
The Giro d'Italia will transfer to the north during the next two stages on Wednesday and Thursday, with flat runs to Asolo (with only a short climb in the finale) and then to Bibione. That could help Dumoulin recover but also make him realise it is better to quit the Giro d'Italia now to avoid compounding his problems.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/1XkbXP5
No comments:
Post a Comment