Happy Dutchman Has Modest Expectations on New Team

In earlier posts, I have predicted big things for Dutch Rider Bauke Mollema.  (In my dyslexia, I had previously referred to him as being Danish.  Ooops!  Well, they both begin with “D” and Holland and Denmark are both up in that northwest corner of Europe.  How else can I explain it?)  Anyway, this may be the year for Mollema to steal some headlines.

He changed teams this year, leaving his career-long affiliation with LottoNL-Jumbo (formerly Belkin, Blanco, Rabobank, etc.) to sign with Trek Factory Racing.  Indeed Trek considers him to be their new General Classification (GC) leader.  Mollema loves his new team and his elevated status, and has set his sights on a top-5 GC finish at the Tour de France.  He will have the services of some big-name riders as domestiques – namely Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Yaroslav Popovych, and Haimar Zubeldia.  In addition, his TDF team could well include Matthew Busche (current USA Road Race Champion!), Bob Jungels (very promising new GC prospect), and veterans Grégory Rast and Gert Steegmans.  

In this year’s 7-stage Tirreno – Adriatico race, Mollema clawed his way to the 2^nd place GC position on the brutal snow-covered mountain of the fifth stage.  Then, in the sixth stage, he suffered a puncture with 70 Km to go.  Cancellara and other Trek riders fought heroically to pull him back, from a deficit of 2 minutes or more, to rejoin the lead peleton and to retain his 2^nd place position.  He will need this kind of team support to realize his dream of a top-5 finish at the Tour de France.

American rider Chris Horner (No. 114) and Dutch rider Bauke Mollema (No. 61), stage 12 Lyon, 2014 Tour de France.

Luxembourg rider Frank Schleck (No. 161) stage 12 Lyon, 2014 Tour de France.

Speaking of Frank Schleck, where is his younger brother Andy?  Andy Schleck eclipsed his older brother in fan popularity, and in Tour de France laurels, winning the Yellow Jersey in 2010 and placing 2^nd in 2009 and 2011.  Andy missed the 2012 TDF, due to crash-related injuries suffered in that year’s Critérium du Dauphiné.  He struggled to make a comeback in late 2012 and through 2013, but retired in 2014 citing lingering effects of his injuries.  As of March 2015 he announced plans to open a bike shop and café in his native Luxembourg.  We will miss you, Andy.

"Andy" graffiti on a wall along the climb to the Col du Tourmalet (May 2011) - a testament to Andy Schleck's popularity with cycling fans.    (Photo by Aaron Kennard)

More "Andy" graffiti - on the support columns of an avalanche shed - route du Col du Tourmalet, May 2011.  Note the graffiti honoring Haimar Zubeldia (another Trek rider) on the first column.  Note also the intrepid climbers Matt Jensen and Nan Kennard pushing up to the summit.  (Photo by Aaron Kennard)