The Netherlands took a one-two victory at the women's elite road race at the European Championships, but they do not hold the same power at the men's field. However, the team can look to ride for a strong result with Olav Kooij, Mike Teunissen hopes that will be the case.
“It's nice when there are many acquaintances and fellow countrymen on the side of the road. They will cheer extra for the Dutch. That is special and therefore a bit more exciting than usual," Teunissen said in words to Wielerflits. “The European Championships are always a difficult race. I think the wind will be a factor and it will be a difficult race. I think Koos also selected for that. We have boys who can handle this and participate. Whether the Belgians and Danes are the favorites? Yes I think so."
The Dutch lack Mathieu van der Poel for example who will be racing the MTB Olympics test event today in Paris, they enter the race in an outsider role. They almost fully depend on a sprint to succeed, where Teunissen himself or Cees Bol can also ride for a result. “We automatically have some responsibility with Olav (Kooij, ed.), he is one of the riders of the season. We must not allow ourselves to be pushed into defense," he points out however.
Although the circuit is in it's majority pan-flat and favourable for the fast men, tactics can be of great power in a race like this where a few teams are stacked with high quality riders - as his compatriots have shown yesterday. "I think we can work towards the sprint with confidence with Olav, that must be plan A. Olav must have confidence against everything and everyone," he concluded.
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