Tom Dumoulin dreams of Olympic gold in Rio. But if this dream comes true, there will not be much commercial reward for his emplyer, Giant-Alpecin. Nonetheless, manager Iwan Spekenbrink prefers a gold medal in Rio over the pink jersey in the opening time trial of the Giro d'Italia even though that race passes close to his home.

Yesterday Dumoulin announced that he will focus on the time trials at the Giro d'Italia and the Olympic race against the clock in Rio de Janeiro. The Dutchman made it clear that he prefers to win a gold medal  on August 10.

Spekenbrink agrees. "If you only looked at the commercial and marketing aspects, the Olympics are not so important  in cycling. As a team, you're not visible because the riders are wearing an orange jersey without sponsors. It has nothing to do with marketing that we want to do this. We want to get behind a sporting dream."

Spekenbrink finds it hard to say what color his German team prefers: gold or pink. "As a manager I would say the pink jersey in the Giro, but as a sportsman I would choose Rio. So I will choose Rio.

"Of course, there are big commercial interests. But why do we get up early every day? Because sport and passion drive us. Of course I would love it if he wears an Italian punk jersey ten kilometers from our office. That would be very special. But the Olympics are in another category.