Dutchman finishes third on last uphill finish of 2011 Vuelta
Bauke Mollema of the Rabobank squad was exhausted but happy at the finish of stage 17, into Peña Cabarga. With his gutsy ride and third place behind the two remaining GC contenders, Juan José Cobo (Geox) and Christopher Froome(Sky), Mollema also moved into the green jersey. After losing the white combination jersey, the Dutchman once again can wear a special jersey during the stages.
Mollema also roughly cut his deficit to third-placed Bradley Wiggins in half (from 51 seconds to 24 seconds). The team was certainly happy with Mollema’s showing. “The third place is a very nice result,” said directeur sportif Erik Dekker. “You always want to win, but number one and two were outstanding.”
Dekker is realistic that obtaining third place might be difficult. “The deficit is now 24 seconds and in the coming stages it will be difficult to reduce the gap. But you always have to keep ears and eyes open and look out for chances.”
Rodriguez finished almost two minutes behind Mollema. “The green jersey is nice,” said Dekker to the reward of Mollema’s great ride. “Tomorrow Bauke doesn’t want to start in white anyway, so it is time for a new jersey.” Mollema was second in the combination classification and was wearing the white jersey, because the combination leader Cobo was wearing the red jersey for the overall lead.
Dekker is not sure yet if Mollema will manage to hold on to green until Madrid. “There certainly is a chance, but there are still stages that suit, for example, [Peter] Sagan better. Bauke can decide himself if that is a goal for him, but the fight for third is more important.”
Dekker sees the next stages open. “There are three stages with chances for breaks. But for example Liquigas may want to keep it together and play the Sagan card.”
Overall, the Dutch team is happy with Mollema. “Bauke rode the whole Vuelta attentive, like today, where he was near the front all day. And when you get third in the last week of a Grand Tour at such a difficult finish, then you are doing well.”