"I can say that I am back": Olav Kooij wins again at Boucles de la Mayenne to confirm Tour de France ambitions
Cycling
Olav Kooij made a successful return to racing at the Boucles de la Mayenne, taking two stage victories and putting an end to any doubts following a long battle with illness. The Decathlon CMA CGM Team sprinter showed he has recovered his form by winning the third and final stage, keeping his focus firmly on his main goal for the summer.
Finding the winning feeling again
After crossing the finish line, Kooij talked about his successful week and how the final sprint played out in a post-race interview. "It has been a very good week. We knew that two sprint finishes were on the schedule. Winning them both is the best possible result."
"Today, the pace was very high, especially on the final circuit. The course was quite technical, so you had to stay focused to keep a good position at the front. I managed to do that. In the final corner, I was ideally placed and, when I launched my sprint, I still managed to pass several riders."
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Having spent several months away from competition due to health issues, the Dutch rider explained how much these victories mean to him and how they validate his recovery.
"After a period like the one I went through, you remember how beautiful and special winning is. And winning is never easy. If I win two stages here, I can say that I am back."
Kooij has 49 professional wins
Eyes on the Tour de France
With his first race block completed successfully, Kooij is looking forward to the biggest race of the season. He noted that while his preparation must continue smoothly, he is confident in his ability to compete at the highest level.
"The Tour de France remains my big goal. We first had to see how things would go upon my return to competition. Everything needs to continue moving in the right direction, but if that is the case, I think I can reach a level that will also allow me to win at the Tour."
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- She deviated from her line - end of
leedorney10-11-2026 - If I was Lucinda Brand, I'd refuse to wear the jersey. Is there a rule that she "has to" wear it, as the winner? It would certainly feel like stolen valor.wrsty10-11-2026
- but don't let your socks be too long or handlebars be a cm too narrow.mij10-11-2026
- Saw a casual interview with Geraint Thomas and him a few years ago. Seems like a nice laid guy and I wish him well.GregT10-11-2026
- Ernesto Maggioni - The president of the commissaires Mafia. It is getting evident that this guy is basically "Iamalwaysrightandyouarestupidsoiwontlistentoyou" kind of guy. So fire him so that he can be always right in his homeabstractengineer10-11-2026
- Somehow it has got into his mind that he is a GC rider. He is primarily a classics and stage rider who can perform on GC given his day. As a result he is wasting his time on TDF GC and once committed to GC you are too tired to do anything else.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- 🐐❤️Lozza09-11-2026
- This is such a black eye to women's professional cyclocross if this result remains. Marie Schreiber won this race fairly. This finish is not unlike others in cyclocross. Lots of moving around to get to the finish not to cut anyone off , but to generate a sprint on soft wide tires caked with mud and sand. This is not nearly the same as a road race between two riders sprinting to the finish on faster bikes and thinner firmer tires. The powers in charge need to use some common sense, reverse this result and remember this is Cyclocross not Road racing. Unbelievable. . .Zencycle09-11-2026
- Tis beyond your comprehension fine sir so best not to look on with blind eyes to THE GOATS greatness.
Brucegel09-11-2026 - McNulty winning was beneficial in ensuring the rainbow jersey would not remain winless
Front24209-11-2026
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