Bauke Mollema liked that he was in a leading group dominated by the Dutch in the seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday. The 35-year-old climber was just short of winning a stage in the Giro d’Italia in Potenza for the first time.
With Mollema, Koen Bouwman, Tom Dumoulin and Wout Poels, there were no fewer than four Dutchmen in the decisive flight of seven. “It was a special leading group”, Mollema said with a smile after the finish. “It was nice to ride in the attack with these Dutch men, we all know each other very well.”
Dutch success was almost inevitable, especially when only four men remained in the final: Mollema, Dumoulin, Bouwman and the Italian Davide Formolo.
Mollema tried to pull away a few times, but was unsuccessful. In the sprint up the hill in the finish town of Potenza, he had to bow to Bouwman, who recorded the best victory of his career.
“It was a very tough stage, because there was full throttle from the start,” said Mollema. “Nevertheless, I felt good, but I also knew that Bouwman was fast. I did everything I could, but couldn’t beat him in the sprint.”
Mollema would have achieved a stage win in all major rounds with a win. He previously won stages in the Tour de France (in 2017 and 2021) and in the Vuelta a España (2013).
Result of stage seven Giro d’Italia
- 1. Koen Bouwman (Ned)
- 2. Bauke Mollema (Ned) +0.02 minutes
- 3. Davide Formolo (Ita) +0.02
- 4. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) +0.19
- 5. Davide Villella (Ita) +2.25
- 6. Lennard Kämna (Germany) +2.59
- 7. Vincenzo Albanian (Ita) zt
- 8. João Almeida (Por) zt
- 9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) zt
- 10. Richard Carapaz (ECU) zt
Mollema’s teammate López keeps pink jersey
Juan Pedro López, Mollema’s teammate at Trek-Segafredo, retained the pink leader’s jersey in the Giro. “It was a perfect scenario for me that Bauke was in the leading group,” said the Spaniard. “I think it’s great that I can ride in pink for the fourth day tomorrow.”
A hilly stage with start and finish in Naples is scheduled for Saturday in the Giro. Sunday is a tough mountain stage with a finish on the Blockhaus (13.9 kilometers at 8.4 percent). It is likely that López will lose his pink jersey.