For many teams, losing a rider like Alberto Contador could be a near-fatal blow, but Peter Stetina says Trek-Segafredo has a more-than-able backup in Bauke Mollema and there is a sense of increased opportunity among the team.
"This team has done a good job of keeping everybody hungry," Stetina told Cyclingnews one day ahead of the Vuelta a San Juan start in Argentina. "I think people sense opportunity. Losing Alberto was a big loss, but I think Mollema can fill his shoes no problem.
"I think a lot of people forget that [Mollema] was going to be second in the [2016] Tour ahead of Richie [Porte] and all those guys until he crashed on a wet downhill, which is just bad luck. The things I've seen him do in races, it's as good as anybody. So I think he can definitely fly the flag that Alberto had last year no problem."
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Mollema finished 11th at the Tour in 2016 after riding in the second GC spot for six days. In 2017, he deferred to Contador and finished 17th after winning the stage to Le Puy-en-Velay. This year Mollema has his eyes set on a podium place, and Stetina plans to be there to help him after skipping the Tour last year in favour of the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.
As a Californian, Stetina has also put a big star on his calendar over the Tour of California, which he says has a great route this year, and then he hopes to be selected for the Tour team to help boost Mollema as high on the podium as possible.
"Those are the big ones, so everything around the spring is leading up to those two pinnacles,” he said. “And, of course, the World Championships is climber friendly, so you have to star it."
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You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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