Bauke Mollema was unable to cash in on a long day in the attack in the seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia with a stage win. The 35-year-old Trek-Segafredo cyclist was beaten by fellow escapee Koen Bouwman in the sprint in Potenza after 196 kilometers.
“Too bad I couldn’t finish it,” Mollema told Eurosport. “It was a very tough ride. The first 60 to 70 kilometers were already fully driven. Then I got into the run and didn’t have to do much because our team was behind it in the peloton.”
Mollema knew that Bouwman was fast. “We all know each other and it was nice to be in the flight with them,” he said about compatriots Bouwman, Tom Dumoulin and Wout Poels in the break.
“It was not possible to beat him, but I gave everything.” After the sprint he patted Bouwman to congratulate him.
Stage win in all major cycling rounds
Mollema would have achieved a stage win in all major cycling rounds with a win. He previously won stages in the Tour de France (in 2017 and 2021) and in the Vuelta a España (2013).