Kooij Finishes Fifth in First Stage of Gree-Tour of Guangxi, Looks Ahead to Tomorrow’s Chance

The first stage of the Gree-Tour of Guangxi in China kicked off with a quiet start, but soon saw a breakaway establish themselves. However, they were caught before the finish, setting the stage for a sprint finish. Olav Kooij of Team Jumbo-Visma found himself in a good position but narrowly missed out on a podium spot.

“Unfortunately, Olav soon realized he didn’t have the legs to win,” said sports director Maarten Wynants.

Despite the setback, Wynants remains optimistic about the team’s chances in the upcoming stages. “Tomorrow we have another chance. It will be a similar stage to today. The aim is to put Olav in a good position for the finale and get him back in contention for the stage win.”

The first stage saw temperatures reach a scorching 33 degrees, which posed a challenge for all the riders. With this in mind, the team allowed other teams to control the race until the final moments, where they made their move.

Looking ahead, Team Jumbo-Visma is focused on getting Kooij in a favorable position for tomorrow’s stage, with the goal of pushing for a stage victory.

Tomorrow’s stage promises to be similar to today’s, providing another opportunity for Kooij and the team to showcase their sprinting abilities.