Sick Olav Kooij withdraws from UAE Tour while Finn Fisher-Black soars to unexpected heights: "It proved to be a tougher finish than expected"
Cycling
The results of the opening stage of this year's UAE Tour are a strange mix of sprinters and explosive puncheurs. As to be expected from a stage with an uphill drag finish, on a climb long enough to make some sprinters burn their matches before the finishline. The most surprising name in the results sheet is certainly Monday's runner-up Finn Fisher-Black.
"Looking at the profile, it was one of those stages that could go either way, so we had to be ready to take advantage of that," tells Fisher-Black in a press release. A relatively easy stage combined with a not-too-hard uphill finish was a perfect opportunity for more versatile sprinters as well as explosive classics riders.
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Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe had a perfect man for every possible scenario with Sam Welsford as trump card and Fisher-Black as an ace up the sleeve. "Sam was our main goal for today, but I had in the back of my mind that if the finale was 10 seconds or so too long for the sprinters, then I might be able to take my chances and make the jump."
Ultimately, the climb proved too difficult for Welsford and that's when Fisher-Black's time to shine came. Despite an impressive effort, a third place (second after Jasper Philipsen's relegation) was a maximum against those top-tier sprinters who survived till the finish line.
"In the end, it proved to be a tough finish, and I was right up there, but ahead of the line I had nowhere to go. In terms of the GC, I’m feeling good and that gives me a lot of confidence, so we’ll be looking to make the most out of it this week."
Olav Kooij
While Fisher-Black was turning heads with his performance at the front, Team Visma | Lease a Bike's fast man Olav Kooij was long gone from the fight for top placings. His main battle was against an illness as he crossed the line 14 minutes later, accompanied by teammate Julien Vermote.
"As for Olav, I am happy that he managed to reach the finish line," sports director Jesper Mørkøv said on the team website. "We knew beforehand that he was not feeling fit, so it was mainly a matter of surviving this stage."
However it was later confirmed by the team that the Dutch sprinter's illness is too persistent to allow Kooij to continue his adventure on the Arabian Peninsula and thus abandons the race ahead of tomorrow's time trial:
"Unfortunately, Olav Kooij will be leaving the UAE Tour. He has not been feeling well for a few days and needs time to recover. Heal well, Olav! See you soon!"
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🇦🇪 #UAETour
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) February 17, 2025
Unfortunately, Olav Kooij will be leaving the UAE Tour. He has not been feeling well for a few days and needs time to recover. Heal well, Olav! See you soon! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/r0tOu9bXGm
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