Rick Pluimers finds himself in between Kooij and Van der Poel at Tirreno-Adriatico: “I'm showing that I can compete here too”
Cycling
In brutal conditions on Stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico, Olav
Kooij powered to victory, but the real surprise came just behind him, Rick
Pluimers of Tudor Pro Cycling sprinted to an impressive second place, even beating
Mathieu van der Poel to the line.
Speaking to In De Leiderstrui after the race, Pluimers
reflected on the freezing and rainy conditions that made the stage even more
challenging.
"Luckily, we have good clothes. I even had to finish in
my warm clothes because I didn't have time to take them off, haha. It kept me
nice and warm in the end, which may have given me the legs in the final
sprint."
For Pluimers, this result is another sign of his growing
form in what has already been a strong season.
"It's been a fantastic season so far, I'm very happy
with the form I'm in. I'm getting closer every time, with good legs. I'm
showing that I can compete here too."
Although he came close to victory, Pluimers acknowledged
that Kooij’s return to the front group was the deciding factor.
"Maybe I could have won if Olav didn't come back a lap
earlier," he smiled. "When he's there and you know how hungry he is,
it's just a matter of trying to follow him. Then a second place was the best I
could achieve today. Thanks to Kooij, I also knew which wheel I had to follow
to get a good result."
Pluimers rode a smart and patient race, positioning himself
well for the sprint despite the challenging finale.
"On that last steep climb, I tried to keep up, and I
was in the right place in the end. When it became a mass sprint, I tried to go
my own way. I got on Ganna's wheel and thought: if I stay here, I will probably
get into the right position. When he had to brake at 300 meters, I shot through
to Kooij's wheel, and then it was all until the finish. I kept sprinting and
was just able to throw my wheel in front of Mathieu's. That makes this second
place nice."
His effort to fight back after falling behind in the echelons
was another key moment.
"It went sideways after that climb, and I think I was
in 50th place. I jumped from group to group and ended up in the first echelon.
Today my legs were really good, yes. Too bad that Kooij came back, but that's
how it goes in racing. I'm very happy to come second after such a tough day in
the rain."
With a fourth place yesterday and second today, Pluimers is
clearly on an upward trajectory, and he believes there may be more to come.
"I am making big steps and I am showing that I am
developing well. Yesterday I was fourth, and today second, that is not bad in
such a race. Winning on the final day? That is more of a real sprint ride, then
we might divide it differently with Maikel," he said.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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