The hillier classics like Leige Bastogne Leige, Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and the Olympic Games are the stated aims for Bauke Mollema’s cycling year
![]() |
News: Bauke Mollema’s 2021 Season
The hillier classics like Leige Bastogne Leige, Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and the Olympic Games are the stated aims for Bauke Mollema’s cycling year. Trek-Segafredo has begun their season with a January training camp in Denia, just north of the well-known Calpe area of Spain.
The WorldTour team has gathered for a two and a half week training period and Mollema says of that “it is quite a long time. Because the December camp was not held, this training camp will take a bit longer ”, Mollema told WielerFlits.
For the 34-year-old Dutchman, the team training period comes at the end of a four-month period in which he was only at home. “Last week I was thinking: it has been almost fifteen years since I have been home for such a long period. Pretty crazy.” Mollema started the corona season energetically last year, but it came to an abrupt end on the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France. when he broke his wrist after a fall on a descent. That was the end of his Tour and the end of his cycling year.
Four months later, the wrist fracture is no longer a problem. At least, not by bike. “It doesn’t bother me while cycling. I still notice it in ‘normal life’. I don’t feel it with certain movements. The question is whether that will ever go away. Maybe it will diminish as soon as the metal plates that are still in it have been removed. ”
Just like in 2011, 2017 and 2019, Mollema opts for the double Giro-Tour this year. “I have indicated to the team management that I would like to ride the Giro d’Italia again. And not for the classification. With Vincenzo Nibali, we have someone who can compete for the overall victory. Whether I can aim for stage wins, that depends on the course of the race.”
And that also applies to the Tour de France, Mollema adds. “It is not yet certain whether I will go to the Tour as a leader. That also depends on how I get out of the Giro. They determine the division of roles shortly before the Tour ”, says the Dutchman. In the eyes of Mollema, the Giro-Tour combination is a good run-up to the Olympic Games. “The Olympic Games have been singing in my head ever since the course became known. That is certainly a big goal this year. Officially I have yet to be selected, but I have confidence in that. If I reach my level, I assume that I am going. ”
“Last year’s selection was based on the hillier classics, but the course in Tokyo is even tougher. I think it is more comparable to the Clásica San Sebastián and the Tour of Lombardy ” explains Mollema. “Because I have spent a long time at home and have been able to train well, I am slightly ahead of schedule compared to other years. In February, I have a busy schedule and I want to be there immediately. ”
Mollema starts his season with a series of French races. In February I have a busy schedule and I want to be there immediately. I start the season in the Ster de Bessèges, followed by the Tour de la Provence and the Tour du Var ”, he explains. “In the run-up to the Giro, I’m also aiming for the hillier classics. This has not yet been discussed in detail at the training camp, but it is my goal to compete for the victories ”, said Mollema. In the run-up to those classics, he does not ride Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico.
After three French stage races, Mollema successively rides the Drôme Classic, Trofeo Laigueglia and Strade Bianche for the second time in his career. At the beginning of April, he will start in the Tour of the Basque Country, as a final preparation for the Ardennes races.
Mollema’s Proposed Schedule for 2021
Ster van Bessèges (3-7 February)
Tour de la Provence (11-14 February)
Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var (19-21 February)
Drôme Classic (27 February)
Trofeo Laigueglia (3 March)
Strade Bianche (6 March)
Ronde van het Baskenland (5-10 April)
Amstel Gold Race (18 April)
Waalse Pijl (21 April)
Leige-Bastogne-Leige (25 April)
Giro d’Italia (8-30 May)
Tour de France (26 June-18 July)
Olympics (24 July)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- 2022/2023 National Trophy Cyclocross Series Final Standings
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Wessex CX League, Rd 12
- CX Result: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LVYCC Winter Races 1
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #11
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series Rd 1
- British Cyclocross Championships 2023: Day 2
- British Cyclocross Championships 2023: Day 1
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series Rd 1
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP) 10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #5 (Hillingdon)
- CX Result: CXNE Round 8 (Herrington)
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League Rd 9
Other News on VeloUK
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist
- News: 2023 British National Road Series
- New Bikes! Ribble’s Reynolds 725 (Gravel bike)
- News: Pedal Club November Meeting
- Info: World Masters Cyclocross (East Suffolk)
- Shows: iceBike Back in 2023
- News: New Sponsorship for CiCLE Classic
- Track Champion’s League: Brits on Fire in Berlin