In an exclusive interview, former Grand Tour star Tom Dumoulin opens up about his life after retirement and rediscovering his passion for cycling.
It’s been over two years since Tom Dumoulin made the shocking decision to retire from professional cycling. At the time, Dumoulin was a decorated Grand Tour leader with Jumbo-Visma, a two-time Olympic medalist, and at 31, still in peak condition, as shown by his silver medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic time trial. But despite his success, Dumoulin was emotionally drained. The hunger for victory had faded, and the constant pressure of professional cycling had lost its appeal. In August 2021, he announced his retirement, leaving many in the cycling world stunned.
However, Dumoulin’s life today tells a very different story — one filled with new purpose, family, and a rekindled love for cycling.
When I speak with the Dutchman, he’s just finishing a walk with his dog and five-month-old son, Oscar. The quiet family time seems worlds apart from his days as one of cycling’s most intense competitors. Now, Dumoulin is preparing for his return to racing, but not in the way fans might expect. This week, he’ll participate in the Sea Otter Classic, a key event in the Life Time Grand Prix, followed by the legendary Unbound Gravel race. Yet, Dumoulin is quick to set expectations: he’s not racing to win.
“I’ll do Unbound, but only the 100-mile race,” Dumoulin says casually. “I’m just there to experience it. I have no intention of winning.”
While former teammates like Laurens ten Dam are diving headfirst into gravel racing, Dumoulin isn’t following suit.
“Laurens is still very competitive, but that’s not my goal. I just want to enjoy riding my bike, have fun, and share that message with others,” the 34-year-old explains.
Dumoulin reflects on the nature of competitive cycling, pointing out that while top riders like Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel set the bar high, such levels of achievement are attainable only for a select few. For most cyclists, it’s about enjoying the ride.
“Most people ride their bikes just for fun. They might enter a race now and then, and that’s perfectly fine. That’s where I am now,” he says.
Despite his shift in focus, Dumoulin’s competitive spirit is far from extinguished. Earlier this year, he took part in the Egmond-Pier-Egmond event, a unique two-day challenge combining a 36-kilometer sand race and a half marathon. He won, despite admitting he wasn’t following any structured training plan.
“I definitely went deep those two days, but it wasn’t like I was training hard for it,” he laughs.
His approach to upcoming races like the Sea Otter Classic and Unbound is similar. Dumoulin insists that while he’s fit, he’s not pushing himself with the rigorous training of his past.
“I’m not unfit, but I’m not doing more than 10 hours of training a week. I’m not competing for the podium, and that’s fine with me,” he says.
For Dumoulin, cycling is now about enjoying the sport, not chasing results. He admits that while sometimes it’s hard to accept that he won’t be winning races anymore, he simply doesn’t want to put in the grueling hours of training required to compete at the highest level.
Having already conquered the intense training schedules and the grind of Grand Tours, Dumoulin now finds fulfillment in other endeavors. He co-authored a book, Op Gevoel (By Feel), and works as an analyst for Dutch broadcaster NOS. He’s also embarked on a live theatre tour across the Netherlands, sharing his personal experiences of professional cycling through storytelling and on-stage interviews.
The theatre performances have been met with enthusiastic crowds, with Dumoulin speaking candidly about the highs and lows of his career. On opening night, 1,200 people attended, eager to hear his reflections on his journey, including the darkest moments of his career. His vulnerability has been both challenging and rewarding.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Dumoulin’s recent focus on mental well-being has been an important part of his journey. He openly discussed his struggles during his time as a pro cyclist, admitting that he was “unhappy” for much of his career. His brief hiatus and eventual return, highlighted by his silver medal in Tokyo, were part of his quest for balance. Yet, by mid-2022, he decided to end his cycling career for good, citing burnout.
Looking back, Dumoulin wishes he had communicated more effectively with his teams.
“I wish I had asked for more autonomy, more freedom within the team. I think I would have performed better,” he reflects.
His final season with Jumbo-Visma didn’t yield the results he had hoped for. “We didn’t really make each other better, and that’s a shame,” he admits.
Despite the challenges, Dumoulin now feels at peace with his career. Cycling remains his first love, but he’s found new ways to engage with the sport. Recently, he attended the Tour of Flanders not as a professional, but as a fan — a reminder of the joy he once felt as a young boy riding his bike.
When asked whether he would encourage his son, Oscar, to follow in his cycling footsteps, Dumoulin is hesitant. While he’s grateful for all that cycling has given him, he’s also aware of the risks involved in the sport.
“Cycling has brought me so much, but it’s also a dangerous sport. There are accidents, injuries, and a sometimes harsh world. As a father, I’d probably say, maybe not,” he says.
As Dumoulin lines up for the Sea Otter Classic and Unbound Gravel, it’s clear he’s no longer chasing glory or old records. Instead, he’s riding for the joy of the sport — the feeling that first made him fall in love with cycling. Whether on a stage in the Netherlands or on the gravel roads of America, Dumoulin is now sharing that passion with others, in whatever form it takes.
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