The winner of the Giro in 2017 aspired to this position. “You could say that, yes. I find it very special, very honorable. That has everything to do with my relationship with the Amstel Gold Race.” That relationship began a long time ago.
“I don't come from a cycling family at all. But once a year, when I was a little boy, we would go and watch the Amstel Gold Race. At that time, the race still finished on the Maasboulevard in Maastricht. And I lived in that neighborhood. They almost passed my house. With a local loop, they came down the Sint-Pietersberg at breakneck speed, and I literally lived at the bottom of it.”
“I have absolutely no intention of turning the entire Amstel Gold Race upside down. Leo has created something truly wonderful.”
“But I do have some interesting ideas about where it could potentially grow or how you could involve the public even more in the race. However, I'm not going to share those ideas just yet. And it remains to be seen whether it's possible and what Flanders Classics thinks about it.”
That quote reminded me of an interview in the mid 2010s during the Tour when he was on sunweb. Someone asked him "do you have plans for today, will you try to get yellow" etc
And he just flatly responded "well of course we have a plan but I'm not going to tell you" and that was that
This can only be good for the race. Tom Dumoulin is from the region, and he is a smart guy.
He also put his weight behind the amateur version of Amstel Gold race a few years back when one of the municipalities involved wanted to ban it. Because the pro race apparently depends on the revenue from the amateur version to be able to fund the organisation.
*Will be the new director - Leo van Vliet is still directing the 2026 edition, but with Dumoulin shadowing him to take over from 2027.
As the article says, the role is changing a bit as Flanders Classics has now taken over the running of the race. Dumoulin:
I am mainly responsible for the sports side of things. For the course, the safety, liaising with municipalities, the safety region, the police. We have to organise a safe race and sportive. It's still a very broad role, but I won't be digging trenches for cables the day before like Leo used to do... That time has come and gone. I'd just give Flanders Classics a quick call.
big fan of Tom. few remember, but he probably was the only guy to put some sort of resistance against the Sky train at their peak, so that the race would not be a 100% borefest. there's no doubt in my mind that he would've won much more if he had a super team behind him.
Yeah, he would have possibly won a Vuelta because he was completely solo that race, but definitely another Giro if he had just 1 or 2 good DOMs to keep Froome somewhat in check.
It will be a 55km tt with finish up Cauberg, just as his wc in Bergen
Lovely that La Flamme Rouge just stole your comment to post on X
can you link it? dont use x
https://x.com/i/status/2008865949815050728
well, lets just say great minds think alike <3
🤣🤣
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Dank je schele sjakie!
> But I do have some interesting ideas about where it could potentially grow or how you could involve the public even more in the race.
More 500euro vip area around a climb they do 3-5 times???
That quote reminded me of an interview in the mid 2010s during the Tour when he was on sunweb. Someone asked him "do you have plans for today, will you try to get yellow" etc
And he just flatly responded "well of course we have a plan but I'm not going to tell you" and that was that
This can only be good for the race. Tom Dumoulin is from the region, and he is a smart guy.
He also put his weight behind the amateur version of Amstel Gold race a few years back when one of the municipalities involved wanted to ban it. Because the pro race apparently depends on the revenue from the amateur version to be able to fund the organisation.
https://sportnieuws.nl/wielrennen/nieuws/inbreng-van-tom-dumoulin-doet-wonderen-amstel-gold-race-komt-niet-in-gevaar-door-nieuwe-regels-2024021922383556464/
What fuckers. They hardly even close any roads for it.
*Will be the new director - Leo van Vliet is still directing the 2026 edition, but with Dumoulin shadowing him to take over from 2027.
As the article says, the role is changing a bit as Flanders Classics has now taken over the running of the race. Dumoulin:
big fan of Tom. few remember, but he probably was the only guy to put some sort of resistance against the Sky train at their peak, so that the race would not be a 100% borefest. there's no doubt in my mind that he would've won much more if he had a super team behind him.
Yeah, he would have possibly won a Vuelta because he was completely solo that race, but definitely another Giro if he had just 1 or 2 good DOMs to keep Froome somewhat in check.
Excellent - there will be no shortage of bathrooms at the finish line anymore!
I loved his post stage interview in that famous clip, it’s so candid.
“Tell us about what happened”
“I had to shit. That’s it.” Lmao
I came here for this comment.
Finally some news to post about in r/dumoulin!
Good news, a director that understands the impact of car drag
So did Leo van Vliet!
Healy should contact him asap.
Can't be worse than van Vliet lol. He won't car pull Pogacar to the finish that's for sure 😂
There will be 5 portapotties in every feed zone
Literally a race around his house