Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) confessed to suffering from a back injury that has cost him more than 19 minutes in the overall standings at this year's Giro d'Italia.

In a short interview with Eurosport (opens in new tab) after the finish of Wednesday's 11th stage in Reggio Emilia, Dumoulin said in response to a question about his current condition, "To be honest, I have problems with my back.

On the team's run on stage 11, Dumoulin said, "It was quiet for us. It was a day to get through. No sprinters, no GC contenders. So it wasn't a day for us to do anything."

Dumoulin left pro cycling in 2021 and left the Jumbovisma training camp in January.

After a five-month break, Dumoulin returned to the World Tour in the fall to much acclaim. In the opening time trial of the Giro d'Italia in Budapest, Dumoulin showed impressive form and many fans hoped he would regain the form that won him the overall in the 2017 race.

However, just a few days later, Dumoulin struggled to keep pace on the 14% incline on the Etna climb on stage 4 of the race, dropping out of the pack of contenders for the win.

"I'm not in good shape. That's how it feels. I've worked hard to come here in the best shape possible," Dumoulin told reporters after the stage 4 finish, but did not mention his back pain at the time.

"Everything was OK. I just don't have my legs right now," he said after stage 4. 'I don't know why, but that's how it is.'

Dumoulin gave a big assist to teammate Kane Bowman (Jumbo-Visma) on stage 7 to take the stage win.

Jumbo-Visma has no clear GC contender, with Tobias Foss leading the overall by 29:50, and with no leading sprinters on the Giro roster, it will likely be a battle for individual stage wins from mountains and breakaways.

Dumoulin's return to racing was dicey after he fell and broke his wrist during a training ride in October. However, he is happy to be back in the Grand Tours and has not ruled out competing in the Tour de France in July.