Belkin went into the Tour de Franc with the goal of winning a stage and having a rider finish in the top 10. With Lars Boom's win on the cobbles and two riders among the 10 best riders, the team is pleased with the outcome of the world's biggest race.

The 101th Tour de France proved to be a great success for the Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM. On Sunday in Paris, the team concluded the biggest cycling race of the year on the Champs-Elysées, with two riders in the top ten of the overall standings. Laurens ten Dam was eighth, while Bauke Mollema finished in the top ten for the second year in a row, with tenth. Lars Boom took a prestigious stage victory across the treacherous cobblestones in stage 5. In the final ranking of the team classification, Team Belkin was a highly regarded second out of 21 starting teams.

Laurens ten Dam steered clear of trouble throughout three weeks of intense racing, resulting in a career-best eighth place in the final standings.

"It just kept going well," said Ten Dam. "That's great. In 2012 I already experienced that once. It's quite nice if you're okay for three weeks. This year, the third week already went a lot better than last year."


Ten Dam is enthusiastic about the work of the entire Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM.

"It has been a super Tour for the whole team. With Lars Boom, we win one of the most beautiful stages, one that will be talked about for a long time. We also were leaders of the team classification for one day. That was a first. The next day, we were on the podium with all the riders and that was a nice appreciation for all the squad. They have helped us really great the past few weeks."
 

"It's been a very tough Tour, but I'm very glad I still reached my level in the final week and became seventh," said Bauke Mollema. "Last year, I was not fit at all in the last week. This time, at the beginning, I had problems that have cost me quite a lot of energy. So in the Vosges and the Alps I was not so great. It is, of course, difficult to estimate how many tricks that played me, but in the Tour, every percent counts. During the Tour, you can’t have any problems. I'm glad I finally was able to limit the damage. It sucks that I lost some spots yesterday.”

Yet Mollema is proud of the fact that he has reached the top ten together with his teammate Ten Dam.

"That's really nice. I think it is a very long time ago (19 years, 1989, ed) that two Dutchmen were in the top ten of the overall standings of the Tour, let alone two Dutch riders of the same team."


Mollema leaves Paris with a good feeling about his second top ten ranking two years.

"I'm sure now that I have this level in me. That gives confidence for the coming years."
 

"During the time trial, my 15th position was certain. I did not really have to pay attention to the riders around me, I just rode a fast pace. It is also good for my years to come. I was able to start this Tour without any pressure. I was able to help Bauke and Laurens occasionally, and show myself in breakaways. Besides that, I have achieved a good level and I'm happy with it. This Tour shows that I still have it in me,” said Steven Kruijswijk.

"We can only be satisfied," said Sports Director Nico Verhoeven. "We are with three men in the top 15, with Lars Boom winning the finest stage. It is a pity that we lost some places at the end of the race, but that should not spoil the fun. As a team we really worked well together, we have fought together. We are second in the team standings and can say that we have always had three men at the front. It means that we have a very broad group, since we have not 'stolen' long breakaways. That's very good.”

"Unfortunately, Stef Clement fell early. With him we would have stand a good chance against AG2R in the team ranking. Our goal was to win a stage and that worked out well. We also wanted a rider in the top ten. Ultimately, we are there even with two men. Due to the loss of some favorites, we thought about a top five ranking, but in the end, it was not possible because of the slow recovery of Bauke. Seventh seemed the maximum result. Unfortunately, we end up a little lower, but I would give our team as a figure for this tour a big eight out of ten."
 

"The last few days I've had some trouble after my fall, but overall it has gone very well. I think I have had one of my better Tours, especially uphill," said Bram Tankink. "My tasks were clear, stay with Bauke and Laurens as long as possible and keep them out of trouble. That was successful."

"I still think a lot about my stage win in Arenberg. When I get home I'm sure to watch the ride again," said Lars Boom of his victory in stage 5. "It was a kind of queen stage, and quite a bit happened that day, and I am very proud that I've finally become the winner. In the Netherlands I expect many enthusiastic people. I'm looking forward to it. That's very nice of course. The last couple of days were tough. After the ride on the Tourmalet I was tired. There was not a lot power left in my legs."

"The first ten days I was at my best. I tried to fight for a stage victory several times, but each time I was unlucky. It was the same story in the cobbles stone stage," said Sep Vanmarcke. "For me personally, it was not what I had hoped for, but I could easily cope with it, thanks to Lars’ success. In the Alps, I had a bad day and I lost my good pace, but after that I slowly became better."

"I did not have any major problems this Tour. I've never really had a bad day and was always able to do my job. I was there for them and thanks to the results of the team," said Maarten Wynants. "I also take satisfaction out of that job. The results of the leaders are of course a bit of the merits of the servants. Bauke and Laurens have never lost time at crucial moments."

"I once was in an escape and that was very nice. It is quite extraordinary to hear people call your name instead of just ‘Go Belkin’ or ‘Go Bauke', haha," said Tom Leezer. "For me personally, it was a good Tour. I have achieved an excellent level. I think it was better than last year, even while this Tour was a lot more difficult. Every day something happened. That made it a challenge. It was nice we wanted to score on all fronts and we have done that."