Olav Kooj on his way out from Jumbo-Visma, Team DSM prime contender to sign Dutch sprinter

Olav Kooij has been developing over the last few years as one of the most promising and talented sprinters in the peloton, but within Jumbo-Visma he has not found his spot and will be leaving at the end of 2023.

After developing within the team's under-23 squad, Kooij turned pro in early 2021. He was quick to show his talent and took his first pro wins that year at the Cro Race. In 2022 he established himself as one of the fastest men in the peloton with wins at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, Tour de Hongrie, ZLM Tour, Tour de Pologne, Tour of Denmark and Sparkassen Münsterland Giro.

On multiple occasions he beat World Tour competition including compatriots such as Fabio Jakobsen and Dylan Groenewegen. He was only 20 years old but a natural, having won two stage-races from the ones above revealing even more versatility. This year he's won a stage at Paris-Nice, as well as finishing second at the Classic Brugge-De Panne and eighth at Gent-Wevelgem.

However, in a team with so much quality, a pure sprinter doesn't have a leading position. Despite his talent Koiij is set to race his third year as a pro and with no plans to race a Grand Tour. With an incredible classics block and the Grand Tours being led by Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Wout van Aert, the Dutchman is left to race a modest calendar. Team DSM is said to be the prime contender to sign Kooij, however a report from Het Laatste Nieuws also points to the interest of several French teams.

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