Bauke Mollema: 'I don't think I was the only one surprised by Cobo's Vuelta performance'

The Dutchman has moved on to the podium after Juan José Cobo had his Vuelta a España 2011 title stripped

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Chris Froome became the winner of the 2011 Vuelta a España this morning after the anti-doping declassification of Juan José Cobo, whose ride had surprised a few people at the time.

Spaniard Cobo, now 38, never took another victory after the 2011 Vuelta and only had one other Grand Tour ride of note, 10th in the 2009 Vuelta, which was also stripped.

>>> Dave Brailsford: Chris Froome 2011 Vuelta victory 'doesn't feel like' Great Britain's first Grand Tour win

"I was always a bit surprised with that performance," Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) told Cycling Weekly.

With the ruling, Mollema moved from fourth to third overall, Bradley Wiggins from third to second.

"In that Vuelta, I don't think I was the only one [who was surprised with Cobo's ride]. But OK, I finished fourth and you go on, but then suddenly this year you hear they go after him and he's suspended," Mollema added.

"I think everyone had that feeling at the Vuelta. Also the year after that he didn't do anything any more.

"Normally that a guy that wins a Grand Tour can then also finish in a top-10 of another Grand Tour or win other big races, but that was the only thing he did in those years. It was a bit strange.

"Now it comes out, it was not really the way it should have been."

Mollema consistently rode well through his career, but the fourth place – now third – still remains his best Grand Tour result. In the 2019 Tour de France, which rolled out of Toulouse this morning for stage 12, he is helping Richie Porte for the overall classification.

"I heard it this morning, I read it on the internet. I didn't get an official notification. I can say, I'm really happy now," Mollema said.

"I don't why it takes eight years. It's unbelievable that it takes that long.

"I don't know, it would've been nice saying I stood on a podium at a Grand Tour. Now it's even hard to say it even if I am there officially now. It feels strange, it should've been much faster than eight years later."

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.