The original Groninger wrapped up the Tour of Italy in Verona on Sunday with fourth place in the trial, behind Italian Matteo Sobrero and his compatriots Thiemen Arinsmann (second) and Mathieu van der Poel (third). Mollema took 26th place in the general classification. The Giro was his 20th Grand Tour.
“I’ve been with this team for eight years now and I’ve felt really good here from the start. I still can’t imagine driving for another team,” Mollema said. “I’ve said it many times, but this team feels like family to me. This is where I want to end my career. Obviously this will be my last contract, but who knows what I’ll think about it in four years.”
While working for Trek, Mollema won the San Sebastian Classic in 2016 and the Tour of Lombardy in 2019. He also won two stages in the Tour de France.
Mollema has long been seen as a rating rider, a regular guy who actually won a stage in the Dutch service at the Vuelta a.m. in 2013, but then focused on the high final ratings in stage races. The accompanying tension has pleased him less in recent years, so Mollema now has an essentially free role on Trek. “That’s more fun, and therefore more free driving,” he said in the run-up to the Giro. Mollema focuses primarily on stage wins in the Grand Tour and in one-day races. “After so many years as a professional, I know what to do and the team trusts me for that,” Mollema said. “They give me the space I need when I’m training at home and they know I’m ready when I start.”
Team manager Luca Guercilina described Mollima as “one of the leaders” of Trek Segafredo. “Bock is one of the most professional riders. A true fighter, racer and a consistent example of the new generation.”
