Dumoulin says weight loss plays a role in good climbing performance NOW

"It's easier to be lighter in the summer, I think it's because of the heat, I do not need much," Dumoulin said on Saturday for the beginning of the hilly special

. a good shape is not a guarantee. "That does not mean that I keep all the lap so good, Simon Yates was super lightweight in the Giro, but eventually he fell, we'll see him."

Yates was on his way to victory at the Giro in May. In the heavy mountain stage of Venaria Reale in Bardonecchia he collapsed and Froome took the lead. Froome also won the Giro

Dumoulin held the alpine stages behind third place in the standings with a deficit of 1.50 over Germe Thomas geletruidrager. He gives eleven seconds to number two Chris Froome

Battle

Dumoulin may be able to take the start of Saturday's race from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Mende. A mile and a half from the finish is the summit of the Coast of the New Cross, a short but steep climb of second category (3 kilometers to 10.2%).

Earlier in the day Team Sunweb Arthur van Dongen against NUsport already that he has all the confidence in Dumoulin for the difficult stage. "Right now, there is no sign that we should think that Tom is weakening," he said.