Olav Kooij suffers fractured collarbone as crash curse strikes Team Visma | Lease a Bike again at Gent Wevelgem

Mads Pedersen delivered a masterclass in solo racing to claim victory at Gent Wevelgem on Sunday, while Team Visma | Lease a Bike were left to rue a challenging and ultimately frustrating day on Flemish roads. And, yet another crash for one of their riders: Olav Kooij.

The race, shaped by favourable winds, saw early splits in the peloton that created echelons and dictated much of the day’s outcome. Visma managed to place several riders in strong positions as the groups formed.

Olav Kooij and Tiesj Benoot made it into the first echelon, while Matteo Jorgenson, Dan McLay, and Tosh Van der Sande followed closely behind in a second chasing group. Victor Campenaerts, initially caught out, was able to regain contact when the two groups came together, positioning the team well for the Kemmelberg.

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Visma had planned to animate the race ahead of the climbs, and according to Campenaerts, things were unfolding as expected until disaster struck.

“The plan was to anticipate before the climbs of the Kemmelberg,” Campenaerts said after the race in the team’s press release. “That worked out, but shortly after, I heard the news that Olav had crashed. That hit hard, but we had to refocus. In the end, we have to admit that there was no stopping Pedersen today. I tried to follow him, but I just couldn’t match his pace.”

Kooij’s crash occurred at a pivotal moment in the race. As Pedersen launched the decisive attack on the Plugstreets, Kooij had responded and was on the Dane’s wheel. But shortly after, he misjudged a corner and hit the deck, ruling Visma’s fastest finisher out of contention just as the race-winning move was forming.

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Sports director Arthur van Dongen reflected on the race’s turning point with a mix of regret and realism.

“We had several riders in the front echelons, and Victor was well positioned in the race, so everything was going according to plan,” van Dongen explained. “On the Plugstreet, Olav followed Pedersen’s attack, but shortly after, he misjudged a corner. The race could have played out differently – with Victor up front and Olav on Pedersen’s wheel, we would have had a perfect situation. But that’s cycling, unfortunately.”

With Wout van Aert absent from the start list as he continues to build form for Flanders and Roubaix, and with Kooij out of contention after the crash, Visma were left without a real card to play in the finale. Campenaerts did his best to respond to Pedersen’s move, but like everyone else, was left in the Dane’s wake as the Lidl-Trek rider powered clear to win in style.

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