After a strong time trial and ride up Mont Ventoux left Bauke Mollema with a legitimate chance at the Tour de France podium, he eventually cracked on stage 19 to finish 11th. With the arrival of Alberto Contador at Trek-Segafredo, the Dutchman now looks likely to ride the Giro.

"I'm going to do the Giro next year. The idea has been in my head since the Tour de France and when I knew that Alberto was coming to the team. Over the last weeks we've finalised it all with the team. I'll also do the Tour this year but that will be to help Contador win the race," Mollema told Cyclingnews at the team’s winter training camp.

For Mollema, he says he knows Contador’s stature would make having two GC riders at the Tour hard. Segafredo’s Italian nature also makes the Giro a big goal.

"When Alberto came I knew that the plan was for him to go the Tour and try to win. It's difficult to go to the Tour with two guys for GC. I'll help him there and I think it's good for me and my development as a rider. I want to at least try and get on the podium in the Giro. We've got an Italian sponsor and I think everything came together."

Mollema did admit the idea of doing the Giro, which he last rode as his first Grand Tour in 2010 as a neo-pro, took a long time to settle in his mind, as he has focused on the Tour for the last few years.

"Over the last few years my head has always been focused on the Tour de France and for me as a rider the Tour is the most important race and where you want to perform, but after some time I started to think that the Giro is also a nice race and it's a real chance for me. It's a different race but I'm really motivated to go for it. We'll have a strong team and I want to go for every
thing, the podium and why not more. The Tour gave me a lot of confidence and while I don't know the stages that well, I think it will suit with me the uphill finishes and the two time trials.”