His spring campaign, however, was derailed at Gent Wevelgem.
Kooij crashed at a crucial point in the race, just as Mads Pedersen launched
the decisive attack on the Plugstreets, Kooij responded and was right on the
Dane’s wheel. But shortly after, he misjudged a corner and hit the ground,
ruling Visma’s top sprinter out of contention as the race-winning move formed.
Despite the setback, Kooij remains part of Visma’s Giro
plans. He will be joined by
Wout van Aert, who is still searching for his first
victory of the 2025 season. The Giro holds special significance for Kooij, who
took a stage win at the 2024 edition, one of the few highlights in what was
otherwise a difficult race for the team.