Bauke Mollema Retires After 19 Years: The End of an Era for Dutch Cycling

Bauke Mollema concluded his 19-year professional cycling career at the Giro di Lombardia, crossing the finish line in Como as the 114th and final rider after a grueling 240-kilometer race, according to reporting by NRC and NOS. The 39-year-old Dutch veteran faced harsh conditions and severe fatigue, ultimately finishing 21 minutes and 16 seconds behind 20-year-old French winner Paul Seixas, RTV Noord reported.

Final Race in Como Caps Nearly Two Decades in the Peloton

Mollema entered the 120th edition of Il Lombardia for a record-breaking 18th time, marking his final appearance in the professional peloton. NRC noted that the rider spent the day before the race resting at his hotel near Milan Malpensa Airport while rain lashed the parking lot, bypassing a reconnaissance ride because he knew the Italian classic’s route intimately. Five years after capturing his career-defining victory in the 2019 edition of the race, Mollema endured what NOS described as suffering “with a capital A” from start to finish.

Reflecting at the finish line, Mollema told NOS he was “mostly very glad it’s over,” adding that he had to fight simply to make the time cut. Despite the physical toll and dropping to the back of the field, he insisted that quitting was never an option as he chased a definitive finish to his long career.

From Groningen Bike Paths to the World Tour

Mollema’s journey into professional cycling began organically during his school years in the Netherlands. NRC recounted how he built his endurance riding an 11-kilometer route between Zuidhorn and Groningen on a three-speed city bike equipped with a small odometer, treating every commute like an individual time trial.

His breakthrough with a broader audience arrived during the 2013 Tour de France, where he and compatriot Laurens ten Dam raced alongside the main contenders in the mountains, resulting in a sixth-place overall finish for Mollema. That performance sparked a revival for Dutch cycling fans. Across nearly two decades as a pro, he secured two stage wins in the Tour de France (in 2017 and 2021) and triumphed at the Clásica San Sebastián alongside his Lombardia crown.

Celebration in Como Closes an Era

Following his final descent into Como, where Paul Seixas secured a solo victory ahead of runner-up Enric Mas and third-place Giulio Ciccone, Mollema shifted focus away from competitive sport. RTV Noord reported that fellow Dutchman Thymen Arensman finished as the top rider from the Netherlands in 38th place, while Mollema closed out the day surrounded by family, friends, and teammates at a rented restaurant overlooking the Italian lake.