After his last year’s respectable runner-up spot in the general classification, Tom Dumoulin aims to make a next step forward and win the 2014 edition of the Enemo Tour. The Giant-Shimano rider acknowledges, however, that he’s going to face a difficult task as he’s days as a slightly underestimated underdog are over and significantly shortened individual time trial doesn’t work in his favor either.

Dumoulin took a surprise second place in the Eneco Tour general classification last year behind impressively performing Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), and although just equaling this result would be considered a huge success of the 23-year old Dutchman, he plans to defy all odds to take career’s biggest victory in the WorldTour event held in Benelux.

Several circumstances, including impressive line-up, significantly shortened course of the individual time trial and rivals’ awareness of Dumoulin’s strengths certainly do not play in a favor of the young Dutchman, but the Giant-Shimano rider enters the competition with a strong belief that improving on last year’s result is possible.

“Last year no one considered me as a favorite for a final victory. I was involved in an early crash but the peloton didn’t go full gas to take advantage of this situation thanks to my relative anonymity. They wouldn’t let me come back than easily if I were a serious contender for a victory,” Dumoulin explained De Telegraaf.

The 23-year old Giant-Shimano rider is aware that an only 9.6-kilometre long individual time trial is not long enough to gain enough advantage over another race favorites, defending champion Stybar and Lars Boom (Belkin Procycling), even though he is admittedly pleased with latest improvement in regards to climbing skills.

“I know what it’s like to stand on the podium, so now I want to do better. For me personally it’s a shame that a [time] trial is so short. The [time] differences won’t be large and therefore bonus seconds are going to be more decisive. It’s certainly not playing in my own favor comparing to the likes of Lars Boom and Zdenek Stybar.”

“I expect the general classification to be formed on Friday and Saturday. I really look forward to ride in Ardennes as I proved last year that while being in-form I can make a difference and distance other competitors. In addition, I improved my climbing. My fifth place at the Tour de Suisse was a good example, I really surprised myself then. In the shorter climbs in Flanders, though, it’s going to be a more difficult task for me.”

Despite predicted difficulties, Dumoulin is pleased with his disposition coming out of the Tour de France, and hopes that it would have at least equally positive result on his performances during the Eneco Tour as it had last season.

“I want to go for a victory. I feel that I came out of the Tour fresher than last year but whether such form would be a guarantee of a final success, I dare not say.”

Dumoulin also share some insights on his race programme for a latter part of the 2014 season, including Tour of Alberta, Canadian one-day races and World Championships, where he will target a podium in the individual time trial.