🇮🇹 #GirodItalia This Giro d’Italia sweeps us through a range of emotions 😃😢. Olav Kooij has developed a fever during the rest day. He is unable to continue. Get well soon, Grand Tour stagewinner 🫶🏼
Visma | Lease a Bike continues to fight against germs after Kooij's withdrawal: "If it's in the peloton.."
CyclingTuesday, 14 May 2024 at 13:56
Visma | Lease a Bike is still grappling with challenges in the Giro d'Italia. The Dutch team celebrated a victory on Sunday's stage in Naples with Olav Kooij, but just two days later, the mood drastically shifted: the sprinter was unable to start stage ten of the Giro. Sports director Marc Reef provided insight.
"This is a significant setback for us," Reef expressed to IDLProCycling.com. "Having him here at the Giro, we really had high hopes. Despite the setback with the crash, he managed to soldier on. He could participate in the sprints, but it wasn't ideal. When you get your third chance, you expect more. So, to face another setback just a day later is frustrating."
"Primarily, it's a blow for him, especially in his debut grand tour," the sports director emphasized. "But it's also disappointing for the team, as it was a key objective in this race. Nonetheless, we have to adapt and overcome. Despite facing some setbacks in recent days, we've managed to maintain morale. This resilience led to the stage win and the impressive performance of Cian Uijtdebroeks in the standings. We'll continue with that spirit."
Reef mentioned before the rest day that there were some cases of coughing within the team. Apart from Olav, some others experienced symptoms, but their conditions improved. The rest day was beneficial. However, Olav developed illness symptoms during the rest day, including a high fever, prompting the medical staff to rule out his participation.
"It seems to be spreading within the peloton, and while most have been affected, the recovery is underway for these other guys," Reef observed. "We hope it continues this way. There's a lot of coughing, and you can observe it in other teams too, with riders withdrawing. If it's circulating in the peloton, it's almost inevitable for it to infiltrate the team."
Read more below the photo.
Visma | Lease a Bike must rearrange after Kooij's withdrawal
After Robert Gesink and Christophe Laporte, Kooij becomes the third member to return home. "Olav is usually more reserved, but he consistently steps up when needed. We'll certainly miss that. Additionally, he's a team player always willing to lend a hand," the team manager remarked.
"We were aiming for stage victories, and we've secured one so far, but we're hungry for more. Without Olav, our focus will shift more towards breakaways," Reef explained. "Of course, we have Cian, whom we've supported well over the past nine days. Our attention will be more on him now. There's still a lot to be done, and he'll continue to pursue his opportunities, which we can approach confidently."
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