Kooij knows European Championship over Milan, Merlier and Philipsen: "Perhaps we can get them to defend"

On Sunday, Olav Kooij will be a major Dutch contender at the start of the European Cycling Championships in Hasselt. He will do so alongside Mathieu van der Poel, Mike Teunissen, Danny van Poppel, and Mick van Dijke, among others: a delightful lead-out. In conversation with IDLProCycling.com and others, the sprinter looked ahead to the continental title race.

We saw Kooij hit the asphalt hard two weeks ago in the Renewi Tour, after which there was radio silence from him and his team Visma | Lease a Bike for a while. In the BEMER Cyclassics Hamburg last Sunday, he returned to competition with flying colors: even though the feeling may not have been top-notch, he won that WorldTour race ahead of competitors such as Jonathan Milan and Jasper Philipsen. And that gives him confidence.

"I started my second half of the season well in Poland, but then I had a bad fall in the Renewi Tour. My hip hurt, so I couldn't continue racing. I took a rest immediately, but you never know how long it will last."

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Kooij can play off strong compatriots against Milan and Philipsen

"I think the chance of it being a bunch sprint on Sunday is a bit bigger than a solo attack or a small group. But even that chance is there," Kooij keeps himself on his toes. "A few countries might focus a bit more on a sprint, while others might focus a bit more on the attack. It will be a hard course."

"It is clear that I am our sprint option, and Mathieu is our attacking option," Kooij says. "That way, we have more than one good card to play. We still have to discuss the tactics, but it may be clear that Mathieu may also do his thing in the tricky stage. If he has his day, he can also take the race himself."

With Van Poppel, Teunissen, and Van Dijke, Kooij still has strong people on his side. "We have the power and experience, so that's nice. We don't often race together, but those guys know what to do and what they can do. So when you finish well, you can trust each other." He also needs that against Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, and Jasper Philipsen. "They are guys on a strong season, so I expect them. Their selection is even more set up for them, so maybe we can make them defend by attacking."

So what role will Van der Poel get in a possible lead-out? "That also depends on the course. Suppose he gets caught again in the final kilometers; it's another story. So we're still going through those things, but ultimately, the race will tell itself."

Kooij finished third at the European Championships last year, so he was close before, but to what extent is this edition now a primary goal for him this fall? "It's a big goal of this second part of the season," he states. "It's a jersey gaining more and more prestige in the peloton. It may still be a step lower than other races, but the importance is growing."