Mathieu van der Poel & Olav Kooij head up strong Netherlands lineup for 2024 European Championship road race
CyclingFriday, 23 August 2024 at 16:00
Although the 2024 Paris Olympic Games may now be in the rear-view mirror, some of the peloton's top riders will soon be riding in the colours of their nation once again when a European Championship jersey is on the line in Limburg, Belgium.
One of the favoured teams to take the title will no doubt be the Netherlands as the team head across the border led by the superstar duo of the current Rainbow Jersey holder Mathieu van der Poel and Team Visma | Lease a Bike sprinter, Olav Kooij.
“The course of the 220-kilometre road race is diverse, with a city circuit, but also passages where the race could be made hard on the cobblestones and in the hills. With Olav and Mathieu as leaders of this group, we can respond to various scenarios,” analyses Dutch national coach Koos Moerenhout in explaining his choices.
The strength of the team isn't merely in the leaders either as in support of the aforementioned Van der Poel - Kooij duo will be a strong roster of riders. The likes of Danny van Poppel, Mike Teunissen, Mick van Dijke, Daan Hoole, Oscar Riesbeek and Pascal Eenkhoorn completing the roster.
In the time-trial too there will be a jersey to be won. For this discipline, the Dutch opt for Thymen Arensman and Daan Hoole.
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KerisVroom11-05-2025 - Well, I didn’t hear any strict instructions from management so why shouldn’t it be like Visma’s infamous Vuelta unless things heat up? Am sure they don’t regret sweeping the podium which was only possible because internal rivalry was at least as strong as external.Mistermaumau11-05-2025