Skilled operating and biking share loads of similarities with regards to endurance and coaching quantity, however excelling in a single doesn’t mechanically imply you’ll grasp the opposite. Until, in fact, you’re Tom Dumoulin.
On Sunday on the 2025 TCS Amsterdam Marathon, the previous Dutch biking world champion and two-time Olympic medallist made a powerful marathon debut, clocking 2:29:21 to complete 116th total out of greater than 23,000 individuals.
“I needed to run below two and a half hours, and I succeeded. But it surely was painful and troublesome,” Dumoulin advised Dutch information Het Laatste Nieuws after the race.
In an Instagram publish, Dumoulin shared that his aim was to interrupt 2:30, but it surely escalated rapidly after he went via midway in 69 minutes.
“I keep in mind telling myself I’d begin at a conservative tempo, however that went out the window once I determined to observe the lead ladies at 2:18 marathon tempo,” Dumoulin mirrored in his publish. “That really felt wonderful till midway, then I rapidly felt my legs cramping up, and I had no different choice however to let the group go after 23K.”
The 34-year-old, who received the 2017 UCI World Time Trial Championship, completed simply 26 minutes behind race winner Geoffrey Kipchumba of Kenya, who set a brand new course file of two:03:30.
Since retiring from skilled biking in 2022, Dumoulin has shifted his aggressive focus to operating, becoming a member of a number of different cyclists from his period who’ve completed the identical. Earlier this 12 months, four-time Tour de France stage winner and French biking nationwide crew supervisor Thomas Voeckler ran 1:13:21 on the Paris Half-Marathon, whereas 35-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish clocked 1:57:08 on the identical occasion. Dumoulin, the previous time-trial specialist, holds the quickest half-marathon private better of the three at 1:10:04.
Dumoulin’s run is wonderful contemplating it was simply his first time racing the gap, though his large constructive cut up of 1:09/1:20 reveals he has potential however loads to be taught to grasp it.
Tour de France legend faces criticism for his half-marathon debut
