The all-round specialist

Cycling is a sport that favours specialists, which is why sprinters and climbers win so many races. However, there is a place for everybody, and when a rider has a different combination of strengths, there are still wins to be had. Bauke Mollema’s primary strength is his climbing and consistency, but he also has good tactical awareness and tenacity. This combination has meant that though he has not won prolifically, he has achieved a very strong set of results in all kinds of races. He’s finished on the podium of grand tours and week-long stage races, and won major one-day races. He’s also taken grand tour stages and generally on more lumpy terrain than mountainous, but that’s where his grit has come in. However his consistency is the most notable thing about his palmarès - he’s achieved top 10s in 49 different events, just counting stage race GCs and one-day races. And he’s showing no sign of slowing - at 34, he’s currently ranked 11th by Procyclingstats.com, his highest ever position.