Bauke Mollema's Giro d'Italia form is improving: "I feel better than the past few days"

Bauke Mollema rode to a 25th place in the Giro d'Italia on Thursday. The Dutchman from Trek-Segafredo was part of the early breakaway where he helped his leader Mads Pedersen gain important points towards points classification and later saw his teammate Toms Skujins ride to second place.

“This is a good result, but it is a pity that we did not win,” Mollema opened the interview with Eurosport after the stage. “A large group rode away today. Mads Pedersen may have been feeling better than expected and was in too. It was good for him and us to take some points towards the points classification.”

In the end, a small group rode away before the grand finale. Mollema had a teammate Skujins in that group. “The initial leading group was too big, too many riders sat at the back and did nothing. As a result, many riders attacked before the climb, instead of riding to the foot as a group. Toms and his fellow escapees quickly got a lot of space afterwards.”

Skujins was eventually beaten in a sprint of three by Nico Denz. Mollema himself came in as 25th, last in the group, but something which can be a welcome boost of moral for him after a few lesser good days. "I feel better than the past few days, so hopefully things will go in the right direction," the Dutchman concluded.