Tom Dumoulin will start the opening time trial of the Tour de France as one of the top favorites. The Dutchman hopes to take the yellow jersey in Utrecht. "This is a chance you might only get once in your career: to win at home at the Tour," 24-year-old Dumoulin told Wielerflits.

"Now it is about to start and I'll be in my element," the rider said at the press conference prior to the Tour. "The tension is not so bad though. In any case, it is no more than two weeks since we finished in Switzerland. I feel good although I was a little under the weather after the national time trial championships last week. I should rather have stayed quiet, because now it was blown up in the media. That was not my intention. It looked like I was already looking for excuses for a disappointing result. I have no trouble with expectations. I'm healthy again and feel ready."

Though Wilco Kelderman dethroned him as Dutch TT champion, Dumoulin is confident. 

"Whether I've ever been in better shape? I hope not," he laughed. "We'll see on Saturday, because that's a bold statement. I can fell that I have more and more fun. I was afraid that it would be a bit too much of an obligation but that feeling has disappeared the last few days. Honestly I am not too concerned with the fact that a Dutchman can again take the yellow jersey after 26 years. That's more for you. I just do my thing."