Bauke Mollema continues to impress in the Tour de Suisse. Two days ago he was the fastest rider on the climb in the opening time trial and today he sprinted to fourth in the first small uphill finish of the race.

Bauke Mollema and Laurens ten Dam were exactly where they needed to be at the end of the third stage of the Tour de Suisse today. On the final climb of the over two hundred kilometres long stage from Sarnen to Heiden the two Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM riders managed to maintain themselves properly in the first group. 

Mollema even sprinted to a fourth place behind stage winner Peter Sagan (Cannondale). He moved up to that exact same position in the overall. Ten Dam losy 5 seconds due to a split and ended up 32nd. 

“I felt a lot stronger than yesterday,” said Ten Dam. “I feel my shape is coming. I had good legs today.

“The finale was pretty tough. Together with Bauke I was in the first group. We wanted Bauke to sprint and we knew that in order to do so, he had to sit in the front at the corner five hundred meters from the line. I dropped him off at the front and so Bauke was in a perfect position to sprint. Against explosive men like Sagan, you know it is difficult to win, however.” 
 

Nico Verhoeven looked back on today’s stage with a good feeling, in which Steven Kruijswijk had an important role.

“The race planned out as we had hoped. Steven was part of an early flight, which was good and after that the race turned hard. That was fine for our climbers. We have fought for the stage win today and that’s good for our morale. Tom Leezer crashed, but he’s OK.” 

Verhoeven expects that the next two stages will be decided through bunch sprint. Since the team didn’t bring a sprinter to Switzerland, the team has other goals.

“Bauke and Laurens are here for a good overall. That is our priority. In the next two days we’ll prepare ourselves for rides after Wednesday.”