Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) is likely to change his race program, shelving Liège-Bastogne-Liège for a cobbled classic.

The Dutch rider has yet to finalize his Grand Tour plans for 2021, but according to Dutch website Wielerflits (opens in new tab), his spring plans include the Tour de Flanders on April 4.

This is not Dumoulin's first time participating in the Ronde, as he competed as a neo-pro in 2012, but at the time he was a late call-up to fill the vacancy of Argos-Shimano and did not finish the race.

While he cannot expect success this time around, expectations will be high to see what he can do on the cobblestones and hills of Flanders. Jumbo Visma is led unquestionably by 2020 Flanders runner-up Wout Van Aert, but Dumoulin could play a useful role.

Dumoulin will reportedly also compete in the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, the race in Flanders most similar to Flanders. No other cobblestone classics are currently scheduled.

Dumoulin has been active in Liège-Bastogne-Liège for many years, with his best result last year being 12th, when he led Primos Logrich to victory. He also regularly competes in his home classic, the Amstel Gold Race, and his last appearance in La Flèche Wallonne was in 2014. This year, however, Dumoulin is stepping down from the Ardennes race.

According to Wielerfritz, the cobbled race is preceded by two other major classics in which Dumoulin has significant experience. First is the Strade Bianche on March 6, where he finished fifth in 2017, and the Milan-San Remo, where he finished 11th in 2019. Wout Van Art won both last year and will once again lead the pack.

In between these two races is the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race, which will form a solid race block in Italy. After Flanders, on the other hand, the team will not go to Paris-Roubaix, but will run the Tour de Romandie stage race in late April.