“I'm happy with my sensations, but not with the result”: Olav Kooij takes third on stage 17 after Decathlon goes all-in during a chaotic day
CyclingThursday, 23 July 2026 at 01:00
Olav Kooij came within touching distance of a second stage victory at the 2026 Tour de France, finishing third after surviving one of the fastest and most chaotic stages of the race. Jasper Stuyven also played a starring role with a long-range solo attack, but the Belgian was eventually caught just a few kilometres from the finish as Jasper Philipsen sprinted to victory.
Kooij pleased with team's effort despite missing out
Stage 17 produced a relentless battle from the opening kilometres before a select group of around 30 riders escaped to contest the victory in Voiron. Kooij, already a stage winner earlier in the race, finished third behind Philipsen and Mauro Schmid after another strong performance from Decathlon CMA CGM Team.
Despite narrowly missing another Tour victory, the Dutch sprinter was satisfied with both his condition and his team's commitment. “One victory and a few more podiums. I think we can be proud of how we raced today,” he said in a post-race interview.
Kooij explained that everyone expected fatigue to play a major role deep into the third week, but his team believed the stage offered a genuine opportunity.
“I gave everything on such a difficult stage and, in the end, it all came down to the legs. I finished third. In the third week, everyone is tired. But that's exactly why we committed ourselves today: I was still feeling good and we thought there was an opportunity.”
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He also praised the work of his teammates throughout the day. “The whole team gave everything to put me in the best possible position, so I want to thank them. We'll keep fighting every day.”
Although pleased with his form, Kooij admitted the final result still left him wanting more. “I didn't expect to find myself in this position, but we're happy to be here, especially thanks to my teammates who brought me there. In the end, it was the best possible scenario for us. I'm happy with my sensations, but not with the result.”
The Dutchman also highlighted the demanding finale. “We tried to keep the front group within reach and, even if we didn't fully manage it, we stayed close enough to come back. Then I had a great teammate in Tiesj helping me. After that, everything was decided in the final kilometres.”
“The last five kilometres were really difficult. I almost cracked in the final kilometres, but through the corners we could still make the difference and contest the sprint.”
Looking ahead to Sunday's finale in Paris, Kooij expects a very different challenge and thinks he might be able to fight for the stage. “It obviously won't be a pure sprint like before, but as I said, we'll give everything and see what happens.”
Olav Kooij won stage 5 of the 2026 Tour de France
Stuyven leaves with no regrets
Jasper Stuyven was one of the most aggressive riders of the day, repeatedly joining attacks before making the decisive breakaway. The Belgian later launched a solo attack around 25 kilometres from the finish, taking advantage of the hesitation following the intermediate sprint.
The experienced Soudal-Quick-Step rider held off the chasing group for several kilometres before finally being reeled in with just 3.7 kilometres remaining, once again seeing his hopes of a first Tour de France stage victory disappear.
Even so, Stuyven was satisfied that he had committed fully to the attack. “I gave it everything I had, but there was great organization behind me, especially from Alpecin-Premier Tech.”
Although the move ultimately came up short, the Belgian believes his team chose the right approach. “Still, I think we used the right tactics today to try, and I have no regrets.”
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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