Bauke Mollema (39) ends career in 114th place at Il Lombardia; He turned pro the year Paul Seixas was born!

It’s all over for Bauke Mollema. The Dutchman ended his career on Saturday by crossing the finish line in 114th place at the Tour of Lombardy, where he rode his final kilometers as a professional cyclist after nearly twenty years on the pro circuit. For those who are counting, that was the year winner Lombardy Paul Seixas was born. The Lidl-Trek rider did some work for his team along the way, but was determined to finish the race.

Mollema’s decision to end his season in Lombardy was a deliberate one. “That’s still my biggest victory, the highlight of my career. I love this race,” he says, referring to his 2019 win.

"It's incredibly demanding—one of the toughest courses with the most elevation gain. Plus, I love Italy, with its enthusiastic fans and the mindset that you always have to be prepared for the unexpected. Anything can happen in Italy," said the Monaco-based pro.

"I really wanted to finish here in Lombardy. I’d always thought this would be my last race, so I’m grateful to the team for letting me say goodbye here to a race that means so much to me," Mollema said in a thank-you message to Lidl-Trek.

Before the race , Mollema was honoured—along with the other riders who were retiring, such as Ion Izagirre and Pello Bilbao. Tom Dumoulin also stopped by to say a few words to him before the race began.

So Mollema’s career is now over. “I won’t miss the hardship at all!” he laughs. “In recent years, you had to push yourself harder and harder to perform at a high level in races, so I’m glad I don’t have to train every day anymore. I’ll still ride my bike and do other sports too; the freedom to do that is wonderful.”

"I see a lot of young guys these days who are so focused, and I think they need to remember that they should really enjoy it, too. Take a little more time to savor those beautiful moments and good results. Don’t be afraid to take a break, recharge your batteries, and sometimes just relax. That’s how you can have a long career,” he advises, speaking from personal experience.

What will Mollema do now? “I just want to take it easy and spend time with my family,” he explains. "I'll stay in shape and will always keep cycling, because I enjoy being outdoors. Maybe I'll just go on short rides and meet up with friends for a cup of coffee. I want to enjoy life."