Affini attacks in queen stage Renewi Tour, Kooij finishes tenth
# Affini Shines in Renewi Tour’s Queen Stage as Kooij Claims Tenth Place
In a thrilling queen stage of the Renewi Tour, a bold breakaway led by Edoardo Affini captured early attention. Eleven riders surged ahead, establishing a lead of over three minutes. However, as the peloton ramped up the pace during the challenging hilly section, that advantage swiftly diminished.
With just 50 kilometers remaining, a select group of favorites bridged the gap to the breakaway. Affini pushed hard in the final stretches but ultimately fell behind the leading group on the daunting Muur van Geraardsbergen climb. Mathieu van der Poel, the pre-race favorite, confirmed his status by clinching victory in the stage, while Olav Kooij crossed the finish line in tenth place.
“It was a tough stage today,” Kooij remarked after the race. “Thanks to the excellent work of my teammates, I was able to stay near the front reasonably well and still come away with a top placing. That was the maximum possible today.”
Team manager Marc Reef shared Kooij’s sentiments, emphasizing the team’s strategic performance. “The goal was to be in the break and to support Olav as well as possible. Both tasks were carried out successfully. Edoardo rode a strong race in the breakaway and the rest of the team supported Olav perfectly in the finale. We got the maximum out of today and delivered a strong performance as a team.”
### Stage Results
1. **Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck)** – 03:50:53
2. **Arnaud De Lie (Lotto)** – +00:00:00
3. **Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)** – +00:00:12
10. **Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)** – +00:00:42
52. **Edoardo Affini (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)** – +00:04:57
### General Classification Highlights
1. **Arnaud De Lie (Lotto)** – 11:05:47
2. **Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck)** – +00:00:01
3. **Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)** – +00:00:21
4. **Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)** – +00:00:50
75. **Edoardo Affini (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)** – +00:13:13
As the Renewi Tour continues, the performance from Affini and Kooij sets a promising tone for Team Visma, showcasing their resilience and teamwork amidst challenging conditions.
