Mollema looms as Froome’s top rival
Netherlands rider less than 2 minutes behind in overall standings
BERN, Switzerland — Bauke Mollema has been in this position before: Second in the Tour de France on the second and final rest day.
The difference from three years ago, when Mollema faded over the final week because of illness, is experience.
“Now I know a little bit what to expect with all this kind of things,” Mollema told a packed news conference Tuesday. “It’s not only cycling. Also, my level is better than it was three years ago.”
While he’s still largely unknown outside his native Netherlands and cycling circles, Mollema is shaping up as the top challenger to defending champion and race leader Chris Froome.
Two-time Tour runner-up Nairo Quintana was supposed to be Froome’s top rival, but the Colombian sits fourth, behind by 2 minutes, 59 seconds.
Mollema is 1:47 behind in second, with Adam Yates of Britain third, 2:45 behind.
Flying under the radar was fine with Mollema, a father of two from Zuidhorn in the northern part of the Netherlands, where much of the land is below sea level.
There is a Dutch saying, “Doe maar gewoon, dat is gek genoeg,” which translates as “Act normal. That’s crazy enough.”
It applies especially to people from the north, who are usually considered more down to earth than their southern counterparts. The saying fits perfectly with Mollema, who came late to cycling and didn’t enter his first race until he was 18.
“I always did a lot of sports — football, tennis, running. We were always a sports family but my family was not into cycling,” Mollema explained. “I rode my bike to school, 12 kilometers (71⁄2 miles) every day up and down, and that’s when I started to like riding my bike.
“My first years as a pro it was a disadvantage, especially technically, but now it’s more than 10 years later, so maybe I’m more fresh compared to other riders.”
Mollema has been able to stay with Froome in the mountains, and moved up to second with an exceptional time trial in Stage 13.
The race resumes Wednesday with four grueling stages in the Alps before the mostly ceremonial finish in Paris on Sunday.
“I still have something to prove,” Mollema said. “I’m happy where I am right now but in the end I will only be happy with a good result in Paris.”
Stage 17 on Wednesday should particularly suit Mollema, with the beyond-category uphill finish to Finhaut-Emosson.
“If there’s opportunities I will go for it. That’s for sure. If I see any weaknesses with Froome for sure I will attack,” said Mollema, who prefers uphill to downhill finishes. “In the last years, he always had a bad day in the Alps or the Pyrenees, where he lost some time, so it can also happen this year.
“It will be a big war until the end.”
n British sprinter Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the Tour de France in a bid to improve his medal chances at next month’s Olympics. Team Dimension Data made the announcement Tuesday with five stages remaining. Cavendish has won four stages this year’s and is preparing to race on the track at the Olympics, where he will be competing in the omnium event.