Tom Dumoulin is planning on lining up at the Giro d’Italia next year, in a bid to defend his title, according to De Telegraaf. However, whether he also lines up at the Tour de France is unclear.
According to the Dutch newspaper, Dumoulin and Team Sunweb have confirmed his participation to the Giro organisers.
The parcours for the 2018 race suits Dumoulin as it includes 44.2 kilometres of individual time-trials. The opening stage is a 9.7-kilometre time-trial in Jerusalem with stage 16 a 34.5-kilometre test between Trento and Rovereto. The Tour de France meanwhile includes just 31 individual time-trial kilometres and six big mountainous stages compare to four in the Giro.
Dumoulin won last year’s race by 31″ from Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) with Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain–Merida) a further 9″ behind. The Dutchman also won two stages including the Stage 10 individual time-trial.
Following the opening stage in Jerusalem, two road stages are set to take place in Israel before the race entourage moves to Italy for Stage Four, a 191-kilometre stage between Catania and Caltagirone on Sicily.
