Bauke Mollema reacts to his World Championship performance: “I was really good, I was happy with that”

Bauke Mollema, the 37-year-old Dutch cyclist, put in a strong performance at the World Championship road race in Zurich, finishing 12th. Having previously won two stages at the Tour de France, Mollema rode in support of his teammate Mathieu van der Poel in a race that was ultimately dominated by Tadej Pogacar’s incredible 100-kilometer solo attack.

Speaking to WielerFlits after the race, Mollema expressed his satisfaction with his performance. “I was really good. I was happy with that,” he said. “I kind of exploded in the last lap, that was a real shame. I think O'Connor crossed over to Van der Poel and Evenepoel. He came from behind with speed. If you're lucky with that, it's even more fun. But hey, I can't complain. I was happy with how I felt and that I could stay up front for a long time in such a tough race. It was really a war of attrition.”

The race, held in Zurich, was marked by Pogacar’s extraordinary solo victory, securing him the prestigious triple crown of cycling. Despite the tough race, Mollema was pleased with his form after a challenging season. “This feels good after the season I had. I was confident that I would be good here in the last months. From the National Championships onwards, this was actually my only goal. I also did not want to ride the Vuelta myself to be good here and in the Italian classics. And after the Walloon classics, I was also confident that I could still compete well in one-day races.”

Looking ahead, Mollema will now focus on the Giro di Lombardia in October, a race he won in 2019. With his current form, he will be eager to make an impact once again in one of Italy's most prestigious one-day races.