Olav Kooij confirms he's still in consideration for Visma Tour de France roster: "It has been expressed to me that the Tour can be an option"

Olav Kooij won a stage in the Giro d'Italia a month ago and then dropped out of the race due to illness. This week he made his comeback at the Baloise Belgium Tour but that didn't go very well also due to his crash in the final stage. But this doesn't seem to be bothering Kooij anymore as he looks towards his next races this season.

Kooij crowned his Grand Tour debut with a stage victory in Naples. "It was a new experience that I will take with me to future Grand Tours." he tells WielerRevue. Perhaps foreshadowing a Tour de France participation next week? According to Kooij not the most likely scenario: "It has been expressed to me that the Tour can be an option, yes. But it depends on so many factors."

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The question of whether Jonas Vingegaard and/or Wout van Aert can participate is the most important question for the Dutch team. "It is of course not up to me to decide who goes to the Tour. I can be very concerned about it, but for me it is just as well to wait and see."

Kooij also believed in an Olympic Games nomination, even if he had to be honest to himself about his chances with Mathieu van der Poel as a clear leader in Paris. Domestiques Daan Hoole and Dylan van Baarle were logical choices over the 22-year-old sprinter. "I knew that the possibility of the Games was there, but also that it would not be easy. For me personally it was disappointing, because I would of course have liked to go there. But this way they also have a strong selection that can support Mathieu well."

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POLL: How will Jonas Vingegaard's GC challenge go at 2024 Tour de France?