Dumoulin ready to be inventive as he chases a third world title in Bergen

Tom Dumoulin has a chance to add a third world title to his palmares on Sunday in the elite men’s road race but after winning the team time trial World Championships with Team Sunweb and then the individual time trial title on Wednesday, he knows that that final rainbow jersey will be a lot harder than the first two.  

Dumoulin is more than the world’s best time triallist and his end of season form means he is a dangerous outsider for Sunday’s 267km race. He has won more time trials than road races during his professional career but was 11th in the 2015 world championships in Richmond, finishing in the group of chasers three seconds down on Peter Sagan. 

The Dutchman knows he cannot compete against the likes of Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet or even Team Sunweb teammate Michael Matthews in a sprint finish. However, his time trialling speed and natural aggression could help him make a late solo attack on the 11 kilometres of twisting roads after the final time over Salmon Hill.  

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"I've always said I'm at this year’s World Championships for all three titles. The first two races have given me two world titles. I'm still very focused on a third and I really like the idea of becoming a triple world champion," Dumoulin during the Dutch team’s final press conference.   

Dumoulin knows that the Netherlands does not have a team leader that can realistically take on Sagan and the rest. Instead, they will be aggressive and inventive.    

"We do have a strong team, but not really a fast finisher. This circuit is for a rider with a strong sprint in their legs after 270km of hard racing. The route is something between the Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The World Championships in Ponferrada in 2014 had a steeper climb but it is a similar circuit,” Dumoulin explained.    

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