The Rouleur Longreads Podcast: Tom Dumoulin and the Butterfly Effect

The Rouleur Longreads Podcast: Tom Dumoulin and the Butterfly Effect

La Vuelta Longreads Longreads podcast Photos: Offside/Lequipe Rouleur longreads Tom Dumoulin Vuelta a Espana Words: Nick Christian


It is late summer 2015 and nobody knows that Tom Dumoulin is on the verge of a breakthrough. Not the 24 year-old Dutchman himself, nor his team-mates at Giant-Alpecin. It doesn’t figure in his employers’ plans. The top tens of Grand Tour contenders put out by magazines and websites ahead of such races do not feature him. The best three-week riders in the world might know his name but have no idea he is set to join their ranks.

Dumoulin has shown promise in week-long races, winning stages at the Tour de Suisse and the Eneco Tour, placing twice overall in successive years at both. He finished second to Tony Martin in the penultimate stage TT at last year’s Tour de France. By more than a minute but still, Tony Martin. A podium at Paris-Nice, maybe Romandie, should be next, though Dumoulin has already said his target for 2016 is an Olympic medal. A gold one. 

He is thought of by his team as an exciting prospect for the future but they see him, for now at least, as “a world class time trialist who’s very good on the hills”. He can make it over the high mountains (more or less) but he is not expected to challenge in them.

That is about to change.

He’s one of the best Grand Tour men of a generation now; in 2015, Tom Dumoulin was a 1,000-1 outsider before the Vuelta a España that kickstarted his career. The “Butterfly of Maastricht” and his team-mates reflect on how they nearly pulled off the greatest shock in modern Grand Tour racing.

The Rouleur Longreads Podcast brings you selected long form articles from the magazine, especially recorded for Rouleur. Don’t stop what you’re doing – do it while listening to the world’s best cycling writing.

The latest in this series is ‘The Butterfly Effect’ by Nick Christian, from Rouleur 18.6, read by George Oliver. Download the Rouleur app and use the code BUTTERFLY to read the whole issue free of charge.

Listen on Acast

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

 

SPONSORED BY LAKA

We are delighted to have Laka as a brand partner of the Rouleur Podcast.

Laka is a team that looks out of each other. Laka’s collective cover is made for cyclists, for life on and off your bike. Laka has flipped outdated traditional insurance on its head.

No more fixed upfront premiums. Instead, your monthly contributions are based on the collectives’ claims that month. Your max monthly price is capped, but the savings are all yours. Plus, 80% of your money goes straight back into the collective: fixing, replacing, helping, whatever. And the other 20% keeps their wheels spinning. It’s as simple as that.

And when s*** does hit the fan, Laka’s got your back. Claims are handled by experts and usually agreed within a day. With no depreciation or excess. Laka are so over annual contracts locking you in…with Laka – if you want to leave, you can. Anytime.

If you are new to Laka, you can get a £10 credit by signing up today. Just use the discount code: rouleur

La Vuelta Longreads Longreads podcast Photos: Offside/Lequipe Rouleur longreads Tom Dumoulin Vuelta a Espana Words: Nick Christian

READ MORE

‘Everyone kept believing’ - Team Picnic-PostNL and the power of perseverance

‘Everyone kept believing’ - Team Picnic-PostNL and the power of perseverance

Casper van Uden’s victory on stage four of the Giro d’Italia is a welcome result for the team who are fighting to avoid relegation and...

Leggi di più
Giro d'Italia 2025 stage five preview: An explosive finale

Giro d'Italia 2025 stage five preview: An explosive finale

A tricky uphill run to the line  and the preceding climbs will make this stage difficult for the sprinters, favouring the more versatile riders with...

Leggi di più
Liv AlUla Jayco

The future is purple: behind the scenes at Liv AlUla Jayco

Liv AlUla Jayco, Australia’s only top-division women’s team, are ready to take on the world. Rouleur gets in the team car at their home race and discovers why...

Leggi di più
Mark Donovan

From WorldTour rejection to Giro d'Italia stage hunting: Mark Donovan is back at cycling's top table

The Q36.5 rider has had a near-three-year hiatus from cycling's Grand Tours, but now riding better than ever he's once again looking to be in...

Leggi di più
Mads Pedersen

Mads Pedersen is at the peak of his powers

A second stage win and a return to the maglia rosa is a fitting reward for a rider in some of his best ever form

Leggi di più
Giro d'Italia 2025 stage four preview: A fast finish in Lecce

Giro d'Italia 2025 stage four preview: A fast finish in Lecce

A chance for the pure sprinters to take a stage win as the Giro resumes in Italy's heel

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE