Tom Dumoulin’s race scheulde for 2017 hasn’t been revealed yet. What is clear is that the Dutchman will do more altitude training next year to improve his climbing abilities and become a better GC rider.

“Next year I’ll spend more time at altitude and I go to South Africa in February,” Dumoulin told Cyclingnews . ” I’m really looking forward to that because normally we’d just spend more time here in Spain. We’d have a camp here in January and then come back a few weeks later. By the fourth camp it really feels like one camp too many so I’m really happy to be going somewhere like South Africa.

Dumoulin has opted for altitude training for the simple reason that he can do more climbing. The creation of additional red blood cells due to the thin air, the natural EPO effect, is of secondary importance. 

“I don’t really see such a big difference in that sense. For me the big difference is that you’re training hard and in a solitary way. The climbing give you specific work out because that’s where you can win or lose a Grand Tour.”

The Canary island of Tenerife could have been an alternative destination but according to Dumoulin it can be quite cold in February. In South Africa he will find "good roads and it is quiet."