Olav Kooij takes victory at Heistse Pijl as Tim Merlier suffers disastrous late puncture
CyclingSaturday, 03 June 2023 at 17:23
Jumbo-Visma's Olav Kooij has taken another victory in this breakthrough season for the 21-year-old. Sprinting to the win at Heistse Pijl
One of the many races for the sprinters throughout the transition period from spring to summer, The race features 6 laps, in each the riders face the Heistseberg which is a technical and cobbled 500 meters at 4%, which summits with only 900 meters to go.
Trying to get some success from the breakaway, six riders rode clear from the peloton. With 24km to go though, they were caught and their breakaway escapades were over.
Disaster then struck for one of the race favourites as Tim Merlier suffered a flat tire.
In the finale, after one last ascent of the Heistseberg, it was Jumbo-Visma on the front, giving the perfect leadout for Olav Kooij as he powered his way to victory ahead of Jordi Meeus.
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- My personal opinion is that UAE has a proprietary cocktail that isn't on the market and will probably never be on the market. It's happened before in sport. Look at BALCO and THG with the baseball situation. UAE could very well have their OWN scientists and chemists making a proprietary cocktail just for them. They have what I call "fk you money" which means UNLIMITED money. It's not out of the range of real possibilities. I've seen a few of your comments and decided to look and see what you've said in other articles. That led me to a few of your comments and I felt it would be ok to speak my opinion. Obviously my opinion doesn't go over very well with most but I've also seen people say "you are everything wrong with the sport" to you😂 and I thought maybe I can talk with this guy. You may not agree with me which is fine but the conversation needs to happen Cheers 🤘🏻🇬🇧
kaos03-05-2025 - I actually agree. Jonas and Visma put off altitude camp untill May I believe to help him closer to the TDF. I do also believe we will see Jonas retire suddenly and soon 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- This is what I've been saying but nobody is wanting to listen. I don't know if I'm right but I'd like to see the spring classics season affect Pogi at the TDF 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I can't believe how naive some people are. You must be new to this sport. The history of doping is so entrenched in this sport. It's a very real thing and it didn't stop with Lance. You're absolutely crazy if you think this sport is "clean" 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I agree mate. I've watched this sport for over 40 years and something is going on within Team UAE and its not above board. Yes they test but when has testing ever caught these massive doping programs so to say "he tests clean" is a farce. We know the testing system is a joke. The bio passport was introduced to help catch doping jut it had the opposite effect. It HELPS these dopers stay within the limits. We will probably never get "proof" about Pogi and UAE as a whole but it's clear something is going on. The entire peleton has access to the same nutrition, technology, science etc etc but when you see pogi I. THE SADDLE going up a 24% gradient, nose breathing, like he was shot from a rocket while all the other top level riders are struggling to even stop from tipping over, there's something not right. All we can hope for is for someone to come forward after their career has come to an end that was at UAE during this time. I believe we are seeing a new substance within the sport. It could very well be a proprietary cocktail made just for UAE that isn't on the market and will never be on the market so it will remain undetectable. It has happened in sport before. Look at THG made by BALCO used by baseball players. That was a proprietary cocktail that never hit the market. With all the UNLIMITED money UAE has I believe they have their own scientists making them a "special brew" that we MAY NEVER see or know about but the best chance we have of this coming out is a disgruntled ex staff member or ex rider from UAE and it may not come out for 10 or 15 years but I believe we WILL find out in years to come 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Not sure why this article popped a year after it was published. I've been saying this all of last season and all of 2025 season. Pogi has gotten arrogant. Last year was bad and this year he races with rainbow jersey so it may even be worse. I like to see that he's not had the success he wanted for 2025 tho. I was hoping that would bring him down a peg or two. One thing is certain for me tho and that's the fact that Pogi has now reached a level of arrogance and he plays nice to the cameras to make his "new" fans think he's awesome but those of us that have watched the sport for decades see right thru his act. He's fun to watch race but I've lost all interest in him after 2024 season.kaos03-05-2025
- I've not even looked at the start list for the Giro yet but I'll be watching every minute. I don't usually go for the favourite. I find it too easy to go for the favourite but I'll usually pick 2. One I THINK will win and one I would LIKE to win. I certainly don't want Ayuso to win. The lad is arrogant and he's a problem child for UAE. I'm not a big fan of UAE anyway. I feel something isn't right within their camp. One thing is for sure tho, GT's have plenty of excitement and usually some surprises and that's the fun of it all. Probably the best part of cycling is seeing new talent make a name for themselves and win stages. That's what the sport is all about for me. Lads I've never heard of that leave their mark in the sport 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Can't see Remco making an impact at the Tour. Maybe next year if he stops riding very near parked vehicles on narrow roads at speed.Renz03-05-2025
- Utter stupidity. HE the the premier rider for them. Why is he pacing someone else who has not even proven themselves. That too in the light of the TT to come. 5 mil for domestique . One wont see these antics from Pogi or Jonas unless they are completely out.abstractengineer03-05-2025
- It's irrelevant whether the riders will oppose safety measures or not. The UCI have demonstrated time and again that they don't care what the riders think. The UCI will implement whatever they want (which based on recent history, has nothing related to rider safety anyway). Also, it's not like the riders have a vote anyway, so it's a hilarious and irrelevant point that you are making.Pogboom03-05-2025