This weekend, Bauke Mollema will end his 2016 season at the Japan Cup, a one-day race. He will travel to Asia with Fumiyuki Beppu, Yarolsav Popovych, Laurent Didier and Fabian Cancellara. "I'm close to the end of my season and it's nice to be back in Holland with my family, and also nice that I don't have to train so much anymore."

"I only have one last race at the Japan Cup this weekend. It's a lot of travel for a one-day race but I've heard a lot of good stories about Japan and that it's a good race in a nice country, so I'm looking forward to going there", he explained on his Cyclingnews blog.

He started his season in January in Spain at the Challenge of Mallorca. He rode Ardennes classics and the Tour de France. He finished 7th overall in this three-week race. In September he won the Tour of Alberta.

"It's been a long season – I did my first race in January and the last one will be on Sunday, in the middle of October. Even though it was a long season, in general, it's been a good season for me", he added. "I just missed one really big win in a big race and that's what I'm personally disappointed about. For the rest, in general, I've had a lot of podium spots, top 10 places, and in the Tour de France I was seventh, and top 10 for a third consecutive year [seventh in 2015, tenth in 2014 and sixth in 2013].

"Of course, you always hope to have better results than what you had but I'm satisfied with the overall level I had this year. It was a good year. I did a lot of training and I was competitive in most of the races I did. I had a lot of podium spots across the entire season, so I think that shows my base level was pretty high this year."

Since he became a professional rider, he did win a lot. The Dutch rider won a stage at the 2013 Vuelta a Espana and at the 2013 Tour de Suisse. He finished 2nd overall at the 2015 Tirreno-Adriatico and 2nd at the 2014 Clasica San Sebastian. "I've been a professional for many years and I'm not a rider that wins a lot, and I'll probably never be that kind of rider but I think I can get a few more victories a year.

"My level is consistent now and I've been close to winning, so I have to make a few more good days and I think that is the most important thing. With the experience I gained this year, and having a good consistent season, I think I know what to do differently and what I can work on - maybe doing a little bit more specific work will help me get those victories next year."