Mollema aims for record in Lombardy, but Pogacar is out of reach: "I think he’ll already be gone on the Sormano"

Every year, the Tour of Lombardy brings back good memories for Dutchman Bauke Mollema. The 37-year-old from Groningen, riding for Lidl-Trek, is at the start line in Italy for the sixteenth time in the race he holds dear. In 2019, he claimed a stunning victory here, breaking away in the final stretch in characteristic style.

With sixteen participations, Mollema will hold the record for the rider who appeared at the start of this race most often. For now, he shares this record with the late Davide Rebellin and Domenico Pozzovivo. The 41-year-old climber of VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè will ride his last race on Saturday. "And I’ll continue for another two years, in principle," Mollema told the Dutch NOS. "It would be great if I could hold the record by myself in the coming years — having raced this Italian monument more times than the Italians themselves."

This record is extra special due to the magnificent victory the Dutchman added to his achievements in October 2019. "The biggest win of my career," he says with pride. "I love this race. It’s a tough race, too. In my first participation in 2008, I really wasn’t ready for it. I think I did part of the climb up to Madonna del Ghisallo and then dropped out. Now, every time we pass that famous cycling chapel and hear the bells ring, I enjoy it."

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Mollema on race course: "Looks more like a mountain stage than a classic"

Eleven years after his debut in northern Italy, Mollema emerged victorious in the Race of the Falling Leaves. He defeated big names like Alejandro Valverde, Primoz Roglic, and Jakob Fuglsang."I knew I couldn’t beat them on the climb, so I made my move before Civiglio. I knew that descent really well because I had watched a lot of video footage. I gained 15 to 20 seconds there, and that made the difference."

These days, the course of the Tour of Lombardy changes every year. Sometimes they finish in Bergamo, other times in Como, as in the edition Mollema won. "For me, that’s the true Tour of Lombardy: the Ghisallo, then the Muro di Sormano (with gradients over 20%, ed.), and right before the finish, the Civiglio. This year, they’ve made some significant changes."

"We’re still doing the Sormano, but not the steep wall," he continues. "I think that’s because of the dangerous descent where Remco Evenepoel, Laurens De Plus and Jan Bakelants went off the cliff. It’s a shame, really. Now it’s just a regular climb of 13 kilometers. It looks more like a mountain stage than a classic."

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Beating Pogacar is not in the cards: "I think he’ll already be gone on the Sormano"

This fall, Mollema’s form has been strong: he was Mathieu van der Poel’s main helper at the World Championships in Switzerland. What will he manage in Italy this time? "I was in good shape at the Worlds, but I’m not sure if that’s still the case after two weeks. And I fear there’s nothing to be done about Tadej Pogacar. This week, I scouted the final section, and later I saw that Pogacar climbed the Sormano minutes faster than I did. What he’s doing is really impressive."

Despite the Slovenian’s dominance, Lidl-Trek’s steady-handed rider remains undeterred. He still loves racing. "I understand people might find it boring if he pulls off another one of those long solos. That’s kind of the way cycling is these days — Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel do it too. But right now, beating Pogacar is just not going to happen. I think he’ll already be gone on the Sormano," Mollema predicts.