"If he had been Belgian, he would have been one of the icons" - Is retiring Il Lombardia record-holder Mollema's career underrated?
Cycling
Bauke Mollema received a guard of honour from the peloton as he pinned a number for the final time of his twenty-year long career. Calling time on his career, the Dutch rider raced Il Lombardia for the 18th time - a record in the Italian monument.
He turns 40 in November, making his career one of the longest in modern cycling. As well as his longevity in the sport, he hangs up the cycling shoes with an impressive palmares that includes the 2019 Il Lombardia, two Tour de France stages and Clasica San Sebastian among 18 career wins.
However, analysts have questioned whether his legendary career has flown under the radar, claiming that he would have experienced more fame had he been Belgian.
Breaking down his accomplishments, which included a Vuelta a Espana third place and a sixth place at the Tour de France earlier in his career, his latter career saw him take some major wins as they wondered if he had peaked in his latter years.
Mollema won Il Lombardia in 2019
"Maybe he started believing too late that he really is a winner"
"We shouldn't be too critical, but there was perhaps more in it. He finished sixth in a strong Tour de France, but rode his two time trials with a rubbing rear wheel, so to speak," Jan Hermsen said on the Kop over Kop podcast.
"Maybe he started believing too late that he really is a winner, because he was. He is not a slacker, but a winner. I get the impression that his list of achievements could have been a bit more impressive, because he has many qualities."
With his peak coming at time when Belgium didn't boast the likes of Remco Evenepoel as a general classification contender, Hermsman and fellow Belgian Jeroen Vanbelleghem wondered if he had been a bigger star had he been from their nation.
Hermsman concluded "If he had been Belgian, he would have been one of the icons there of the past twenty years."
Vanbelleghem added: "Especially in that period. Back then, we only had Jurgen Van den Broeck for the general classification."
Mollema competed in Il Lombardia 18 times
The Lidl-Trek rider has become synonymous with Il Lombardia as he started his 13th successive edition of the race - which he hadn't missed since 2013. His 2019 victory saw him arrive solo ahead of Alejandro Valverde, Egan Bernal and Jakob Fugslang.
“That’s still my biggest victory, the highlight of my career. I love this race,” Mollema said, reflecting on his 2019 triumph.
“It’s so demanding, one of the hardest with the most meters of climbing. Plus I love Italy with the enthusiastic fans and the way that you always have to expect the unexpected. Anything can happen in Italy.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
- Why should he 'let it go' ! Because you said so? Anytime LA Doper is called out is a win win !frieders302-11-2026
- Geez LeMond...let it go. You're a has been, albeit a former great one. But this is all water under the bridge and just undermines your legacy further.Mshark01-11-2026
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