Bauke Mollema continued his excellent string in the Ardennes classics when he took his seventh top 10 finish in the last eight hilly races in the area at today's Fleche Wallonne. This time he did better than ever before as he got close to his first ever podium in a classic, crossing the line in fourth.

Bauke Mollema placed fourth in La Flèche Wallonne today. The Dutchman of the Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM followed the very best in the race until the top of the Mur de Huy, where he saw Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) take the win.

Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) placed second and third. Paul Martens crossed the line in 13th position. 

The fourth place stands as Mollema’s best result in La Flèche Wallonne. In 2012, he finished seventh and last year, ninth. 

“This is a great result,” said Mollema. “I’ve never done the Mur de Huy so fast, I think. I felt good all day. It’s too bad I finished just outside the podium. Before the race, I thought top five was possible because the Amstel Gold Race went pretty well and Flèche’s climbs suit me better as they are slightly longer and more difficult.” 

Mollema learned from previous editions.

“The last few years I had to attack from too far down on the Mur de Huy. That’s why I really wanted to start the climb at the front this time. Thanks to the team, I succeeded in that. The guys dropped me off perfectly at the bottom. I was also able to save energy until the very last moment as they kept me out of the wind the whole race.” 

Sports Director Merijn Zeeman spoke proudly after the race. He explained that he saw an extremely strong Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM in Wallonia. 

“We were very good today. I’m very satisfied,” Zeeman said. “From start to finish, we rode strongly. Jack Bobridge and Stef Clement supported Bauke perfectly in the beginning. David Tanner and Jonathan Hivert helped him in the though hilly zone, while Laurens ten Dam and Lars Petter Nordhaug assisted Bauke deep into the race. It was nice to see us being so dominant until late in the race. 

“On the Mur, Bauke raced with the ambition to win and his fourth place is a fantastic result. Paul Martens finished 13th and did great, as well. Today’s racing gives every one of the team a lot of satisfaction.”