De Vuelta van 2012 in Spanje is een zwarte bladzijde uit de wielercarrière van @tom_dumoulin. Hij kwam lelijk ten val en raakt bij Renze geëmotioneerd als ze terugblikken naar dit moment. 'Ik dacht dat ik dood ging'. #RENZE
Emotional Dumoulin reflects on near-death experience in Spain: "I could see my own intestines"
CyclingFriday, 31 May 2024 at 07:30
The autobiography of Tom Dumoulin, written by Nando Boers, is soon to be released, which means the Dutch cyclist is currently making appearances here and there to discuss the book. Dumoulin was a guest on the Dutch talkshow Renze on Thursday, where he looked back on a perilous moment from the beginning of his cycling career.
Crashes are a part of cycling, unfortunately, and this has been no different in Dumoulin's career. The open-hearted racer took presenter Renze, the other guests, and the TV viewers back to the Vuelta of 2012, his first grand tour. "There, I experienced a very nasty fall, actually the worst in my career," said the Dutchman, originally from the region of Limburg.
For his book, Dumoulin traveled to several places where he had achieved success. "But going back to that place was not at all the intention of the trip, because I was there as I had won the queen stage of the Tour de France in Andorra. So that was not the goal at all. On the way to Andorra, we passed the descent where I had a really hard crash."
"As a first-year pro cyclist, around twenty years old, I crashed very hard into the guardrail there," he continued. "I tore my stomach open and then fell down over the guardrail. When I climbed back up, I saw all red where my stomach was cut completely open. I notice that I still have difficulty thinking about that," said Dumoulin, who mentioned in his book that he could see his intestines at that time, with an emotional voice.
Continue reading below the video.
Vuelta crash still has a big impact on Dumoulin
"It's still difficult to talk about. It had a big impact on me," said the Dutchman. "At that moment, I thought I was going to die. Since then, I've been scared throughout my career, always scared on a descent," said Dumoulin, who also reconstructed the moment right before the crash. "I was following another guy and he misjudged the corner. He stuck to his line, but I was coming up behind him with more speed and I had no chance. That's why I've always remained scared whenever I was in someone's slipstream: in a time trial I could descend like a cannon, but in the wheel, I was scared."
"Apparently, it's some kind of trauma, because otherwise I wouldn't get emotional about it now," Dumoulin understands. "There's still a big gash in my stomach, but I was very lucky at the time. My stomach was open and a lot of blood was coming out, but it was just a matter of stapling it together. I was very fortunate that nothing internal was hit. But I did feel very lonely when I was sitting there," indicates the rider, who still feels the effects today. "I still find it difficult to watch crashes, and I hope that my child doesn't become a cyclist." Dumoulin announced last week that he is becoming a father for the first time.
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Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024