🚴🇪🇸 | Een chaotische sprint. De aanloop, de uitvoering.. Maar Olav Kooij wint 🤏🤏 #ClasicaAlmeria2024 📺 Koers kijk je op discovery+
Kooij needs to scratch his head after the finish: "These kinds of mistakes happen in a first race"
CyclingSunday, 11 February 2024 at 19:15
The first victory is already secured for Olav Kooij. The Dutch top sprinter from Visma | Lease a Bike immediately made an impact in his first race of 2024. The "Hunting Leopard" from Numansdorp received support from Wout van Aert, who led out the sprint right up to the finish line.
"The team performed exceptionally well again," remarked the victorious rider in a post-race interview. "There were numerous traffic circles in the final stretch, so we got separated quite a few times. We also encountered some difficulties sticking together in the final kilometers."
Amidst all the chaos, Kooij found himself isolated at one point. "I had to navigate my way through on my own. But fortunately, Wout caught up with me again. Due to the efforts leading up to that, my legs were feeling it, but fortunately, it was enough for the win."
Still, Kooij began to doubt after the line: cheered too soon?
That it was enough for the win, however, became far from certain. While Kooij seemed to be sprinting confidently towards victory, he began his celebratory gesture even before crossing the line, causing the sprinters behind him to come dangerously close to his front wheel. Particularly the runner-up, Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), appeared to almost snatch the victory.
"I looked left at the line, but maybe I should have done that earlier," Kooij chuckled about the incident. "You make mistakes like that in your first race. But now I know for the next races that I have to sprint all the way to the line. Plus, with this headwind, I also lost some speed."
So, the first test ahead of the Giro d'Italia proves to be an immediate success for Kooij and Visma | Lease a Bike. In the upcoming Italian race, he will also target stage victories in the bunch sprints. There, as in Almeria, he will receive support from Van Aert, who will ride in support of the Dutchman in these stages.
Il Lombardia 2024
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024