"I hope things go even better today" - Olav Kooij still waiting for first Grand Tour stage win at 2024 Giro d'Italia
Cycling
With two sprints down at the first Grand Tour of his career at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, Team Visma | Lease a Bike's sprinting prodigy, Olav Kooij has made a solid start with placings of 6th and 4th. A first Grand Tour stage win still eludes him however.
On stage 5, it's likely to end in another bunch sprint, allowing the 22-year-old Dutchman a third chance to secure himself a win. “The lead-out of the team, with Christophe Laporte as the last man, certainly gives confidence," Kooij previews ahead of the stage to Eurosport. "Christophe knows perfectly how to position yourself. Today there is a new opportunity.”
In fact, the parcour of stage 5, might just be the bunch sprint that most perfectly suits a rider of Kooij's capabilities. “The fact that there is no climb in the final this time may mean that more riders will join the sprint. That will make it a bit more difficult," Kooij assesses however. "It is important to enter the city (Lucca, ed.) in a good position.”
Despite having suffered an early crash though, the early signs have been positive for Kooij. “Every day is different, especially with such a large sprint field. Things are getting better and better after my fall," he concludes. "The recovery is going as expected. I hope things go even better today.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
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🇮🇹 #GirodItalia We keep on fighting for our chance. 😎
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