Dutchman Bauke Mollema finished 18th in the Ponferrada World Championship road race today in Ponferrada, Spain, behind solo winner Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), but was not completely satisfied with the 254.8-kilometre race.

“It was a tough race,” said the Belkin Pro Cycling Team rider to the team website. “The pace was high and the weather made ​​it extra hard. Then it rained, then it was dry. “

“A few laps from the end, I realised that it wouldn’t be enough to create big differences. I set my sights on the final climb, but unfortunately, I was distanced on the way to the top by a small first group. That was too bad because otherwise I could have sprinted for a top ten spot. This is disappointing, I had hoped for more.”

Mollema was helped by fellow Dutchmen, including his Belkin Pro Cycling Team team-mates Stef Clement, Steven Kruijswijk and Wilco Kelderman. “The guys worked hard for me and Tom Dumoulin. They did everything to keep us in the front. Stef did important work in the beginning of the race and Wilco gave me his wheel when I flatted.”

That proved to be a crucial moment. “That flat tyre came at a bad time. As a result, we lost Wilco and Wout Poels. Woutwaited for me, but couldn’t follow on the downhill. Because of that flat tyre, we actually lost two men.”

All in all a mixed race for the Belkin team. Norwegian Lars Petter Nordhaug ended the World Championship road race in 37th. Paul Martens and Sep Vanmarcke finished 63rd and 64th on behalf of Germany and Belgium, respectively. Clement showed character and concluded the race in 90th.