“It is disappointing that the team does not have confidence in me” – Bauke Mollema about non-selection at Tour de France

“Two weeks ago I even went on another altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada. My values ​​are better than ever. Now the team is built more around our sprinter Mads Pedersen. Still, even after Tao dropped out – as annoying as it is for him – I thought I would get his place.”

Mollema is absolutely disappointed that he is once again not participating in the Tour, also because the years are starting to count. “Do you know what it is? Initially I did not expect to ride the Tour de France in the winter. Our team has become so much stronger across the board that my chances of participating were not great. Until I suddenly rode very well in the hill classics and Itzulia Basque Country and there was still a chance.”

“Then I started to believe in it again, but unfortunately I am not going to travel to Italy. That is extra sad because this may have been my last chance to ride the Tour due to the increasing competition. The motivation is gone for a while, yes, I don’t get motivated by riding the Tour of Wallonia or Burgos, and I am also not allowed to start at the Vuelta a España.”

The experienced climber is now going on holiday with his family, but Mollema is not giving up. “This is a snapshot. Disappointments are part of top sport and especially this year I noticed that I was making progress. I have a new trainer and that has an effect. The fact that I am not allowed to ride the Tour is annoying and causes the motivation to disappear for a while, but it will come back.”