Cycling highlights: Today, Tom Dumoulin is considered one of the strongest class riders. But that was not always so. He was able to demonstrate his qualities for the first time in a three-week tour at the Vuelta a Espana 2015. He provided a real highlight on the ninth stage.
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Dumoulin keeps up and even attacks
When Tom Dumoulin announced that he wanted to fight for overall victory at major national tours in the future, only a few believed him capable of doing so. The Dutchman showed the cycling fans at the Vuelta a Espana 2015 that he was serious. Already after the fifth stage he was able to win the leader's jersey for one day. But he achieved his masterpiece on the ninth section. The stage covered 168,3 kilometers from Torrevieja to the Cumbre del Sol in Benitachell. The final climb was 4,1 kilometers long and had an average gradient of 8,9 percent. With gradients of up to 19 percent, this finish was anything but suitable for a tough time trialist like Tom Dumoulin. But to everyone's astonishment, the Dutchman was not only able to keep up with the best climbers, he was even able to go on the offensive.
Froome and Rodriguez already had him
With 2,7 kilometers to go, the then 24-year-old launched his second attack. A gap opened up and the opponents looked at each other. But instead of tactics for a long time, they immediately went in pursuit. After all, they knew the standings in the standings and that Tom Dumoulin was now indeed a serious contender for the red jersey. After an attack by Rafal Majka failed, Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodriguez broke up. Tom Dumoulin's lead kept shrinking. With around 500 meters to go, the two finally caught up with him, overtook him and even left him standing. When Chris Froome increased the pace again, the stage win seemed to be in vain.
Classification driver Dumoulin was born
The spectators couldn't believe their eyes. They saw Tom Dumoulin growing taller and taller in the background from a distance. Completely unexpectedly, the Dutchman was able to close the gap again, pass Rodriguez and Froome - and win the race. With his first professional victory - apart from time trials - Tom Dumoulin drove himself back into the red jersey. At the end of the tour he was only supposed to be sixth, but it was clear to everyone: This guy can also be expected at major national tours in the future. In 2017 he won the Giro d'Italia. The following year he became Second at the Giro and the Tour de France.