Kooij finishes seventh in second stage of Gree-Tour of Guangxi

The second stage of the Gree-Tour of Guangxi took place in China, with the riders cycling from Beihai to Qinzhou. The race saw an early breakaway form, much like in the first stage, with four riders gaining a significant lead. However, they were caught just ten kilometers from the finish. Team Jumbo-Visma worked to position Olav Kooij for the final sprint, but the 21-year-old Dutchman narrowly missed out on a podium finish.

Team Jumbo-Visma sports director Maarten Wynants described the sprint as hectic, stating, “The last 3.5 kilometers were straightforward, which often makes racing complicated because timing is crucial. Our timing wasn’t ideal this time, so we had to start a little too far back.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming stages, Wynants explained, “Tomorrow, we have five one-kilometer climbs with ten percent gradients. Then, everything has to be in place for us to be able to sprint. Furthermore, we have plans with Milan (Vader) for the uphill finish after that. Finally, we have two bunch sprints, which should give Olav a chance.”

Wynants also shared his thoughts on racing in China, saying, “Racing in China is special. People here are not used to dealing with cyclists, which makes it different. It’s nice to race in a different culture for a change; that makes it unique and exciting.”

The Gree-Tour of Guangxi is part of the UCI World Tour men’s cycling calendar.