Interview | Bol can't wait to help Cavendish to 35th stage win in Tour: "All bets on Mark"

When this website spoke with the 27-year-old North Hollander in April, he indicated that he had found the first few months at his new employer to be refreshing. "You have to get to know everyone again. Astana is also partly Italian and there is a real cycling culture there. The language is therefore different, although everyone tries very hard to speak English," he said about his experiences with the new team. In mid-June Bol still thinks exactly the same. I feel really good and have a great time with this team. I have completed a nice race program and there are still some nice races coming up.

The ex-Team DSM rider is also pleased with the results achieved this year. "I am happy with what I have shown. But as a cyclist, you always want more. I think few riders will say they wouldn't have liked to have won one more. And that goes for me too, of course, but in itself, I am very satisfied. It goes well," said an optimistic Bol, who has sprinted to (close) places of honour in the Saudi Tour, the UAE Tour, Paris-Nice, the Four Days of Dunkirk and the ZLM Tour.

Bol was Astana Qazaqstan Team's forward pawn in the Belgian stage race, which he eventually finished with two top-ten finishes. It was the last preparation race - barring the NK - before the good-humoured hard rider travels to the Tour de France alongside Mark Cavendish. Cavendish is aiming for a 35th stage win in 'La Grande Boucle' and could use a strong lead-out from someone like Bol. For his part, the Zaandam native can't wait to lead 'Cav' to his oh-so-coveted 35th stage victory. "It's all bets on Mark this Tour. That makes sense and I'm hugely motivated to help him."

Whether he's not a little bummed that he can't and shouldn't ride for his own chance? Anything but. "No, definitely not. I think it is wonderful to go to the Tour precisely from that point of view. And in such a race as the Tour of course everything happens, so you never know exactly how it will go. Not only for me but in general. Moreover, we do start with a few guys who can also go for a breakaway every now and then. On the other hand, it's not all about Mark for three weeks. There is a healthy balance, but the main goal is to help him get that triumph."

It is not an unknown fact within the cycling world that Bol has a Belgian fan club. What started as a joke turned into a serious fan club with more than 400 members. When this website spoke with Bol on day three of the Baloise Belgium Tour, he told us that his supporters had come out in large numbers to watch the race, especially at the overture, to cheer the tall classics rider to a good result. When Bol elaborates on the tifosi, he immediately relates a wonderful anecdote. "In the ZLM Tour, we had a staff shortage at Astana one time. We were facing logistical problems and then they asked me if I knew anyone who would be willing to help. So eventually someone from the fan club drove the camper around. That was really funny," Bol chuckles.