We were in Stuttgart, back in 2007. The Italian national team was all gathered around Bettini who was about to win the second world championship, preceded by the iris of Marta BastianelliAmong the under-23s, led by Sandro Callari, there was little confidence, given the recent opening to the professionals. Ours had recently been at the Tour de l'Avenir, won by a Dutchman who had done nothing but sprint. «His name is Mollema – said Dr. Daniele, the Azzurri's doctor, one morning in the hotel courtyard – it's really spectacularHe took certain shots, the likes of which hadn't been seen in a long time."
Man on the run
Velits, already a professional, won that World Cup. Our team finished in the rearguard. Doctor Daniele would become and still is one of the doctors of the Trek-SegafredoAnd he found that spectacular attacking rider in his team.His sprints no longer helped him win major stage races, but it cannot be said that Mollema's career was banal. He won his races and rarely did so in sprints.
Among the greatest, it's worth mentioning the 2016 Clasica San Sebastian, with a 17-second lead over Gallopin. The 2019 Lombardia, with a 16-second lead over Valverde. The two stages of the Tour, yesterday's and 2017, led by long breakaways. And with a hint of nationalism, the last Trofeo Laigueglia, won by 39 seconds over Bernal.
Infallible lucidity
At 34 years old, the big boy from Groningen yesterday he demonstrated physical strength, but above all a frightening lucidity in taking advantage by exploiting the characteristics of the roads.
«Most of my victories – he said after the victory – are solitary escapes, it's just about finding the right time to attack. When I felt that there was no one on my wheel, I thought it was time and immediately took a nice lead. I think not many expected an attack there, but once I take three or four seconds, it's pretty hard to come and get me.I have the ability to go very fast in those early stages and I used the corners very well to disappear from their sight. In those cases, you have to be ready to react to bridge the gap.I knew that if they didn't do it right away they would look at each other and I would have a clear path."
At the 2017 Tour he went on a solo breakaway for 30 kilometres towards Le Puy en Velay in a spectacular setting Diego Ulissi arrived at the finish line that day after about twenty seconds
At the 2017 Tour, a solo breakaway to Le Puy en Velay in a spectacular setting Diego Ulissi arrived at the finish line that day after about twenty seconds
Finish line on the climb
Free road is a nice way of saying that once alone he found himself facing 41 kilometers of heat and fatigue up to Quillan, with a partial and decisive finish at the top of the Col de Saint Louis, the last challenge of the day: 4,6 kilometers at an average gradient of 6,8 percent.
«It was a super hard day – he confirmed – It took 90 kilometers before the escape startedAs a team, we didn't miss a thing. There was a good group in front, but there was no collaboration. I felt good. And I thought, "Let's start from far away." I did 41 kilometers alone, it was tough, but I had the confidence to pedal alone and I felt that at that pace I could go on for a long time.I knew I had a good chance of winning, so I went full throttle and didn't lose too much. With more than 50 seconds at the top of the last climb and 20 kilometers to go, I was pretty confident of winning the stage. It was spectacular.
Alone at the finish line in the last Laigueglia Trophy, with 39″ on an already lively Bernal On the attack toward the Ligurian finish line. Ten days earlier, he had already won in France.
Alone at the finish line in the last Laigueglia Trophy, with 39″ on an already lively Bernal On the attack toward the Ligurian finish line. Ten days earlier, he had already won in France.
The first one is not forgotten
Quillan's victory is Mollema's second at the Tour, in a career that, as we mentioned at the beginning, seemed predestined but instead saw him carve out a role as a high-class lieutenant, also at Nibali's disposal, with the license to carve out space for his own breakaways. Teams love someone like that a lot. and it is no coincidence that his was one of the first contracts to be renewed.
"My first Tour victory was in 2017," he said, "but it's really difficult to compare them. We arrived in Le Puy en Velay and the stage was quite similar, even if the last climb was further from the finish lineIt was my first stage victory at the Tour, arriving after 30 kilometers alone with 19 seconds in a small group with Ulissi, Gallopin and Roglic. Being the first one, it was probably the most special, but this one was definitely super nice.Especially since the breakaway was even longer. I'm not a rider who wins five or ten races every year, so every victory is special for me. And if we talk about the Tour de France, it is even more so."
