Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands in action during the Tokyo 2020 cycling road men's individual time trial in Shizuoka, Japan, July 28, 2021. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
2017 Giro d'Italia winner and Olympic silver medalist Tom Dumoulin will end his professional career by the end of 2022.
THE HAGUE, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Tom Dumoulin on Friday announced his intention to retire from professional cycling by the end of 2022 after years of physical setbacks.
The 31-year-old winner of the 2017 Giro d'Italia explained he has too much physical discomfort to continue with top-level cycling for years to come.
"For a while now there has been a disbalance between everything I do and sacrifice for the sport and what I subsequently get out of it in return," Dumoulin stated on his social media accounts.
Dumoulin had already taken a break at the beginning of 2021 to think about his future as a professional cyclist after he said he was "overtrained and burned out". He returned quickly to compete in the Tokyo Olympics last year, where he captured a silver medal in the time-trial.
Dumoulin celebrates after winning the Tokyo 2020 cycling road men's individual time trial. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
In his third season at the Jumbo-Visma team, Dumoulin had a difficult 2022. Last month he retired from the Giro d'Italia with back pain after two weeks of racing.
Dumoulin won the Giro in 2017 and finished second in the Giro and the Tour de France in 2018. In addition, the Dutchman claimed four stage wins in the Giro, three in the Tour de France and two in the Vuelta a Espana. In 2017, he became world champion in individual time trial. ■
