Olav Kooij is Team Visma | Lease a Bike's main sprinter and he started off his season in Oman. At the Tour of Oman, stage 1 was guided towards the sprinters, and the Dutchman did not disappoint.
The first stage of the Omani race started immediately with a climb but it wasn't to be attacked. A breakaway was formed featuring Mohammed Al-Wahibi, Rodrigo Alvaréz, Said Ahlrabi, and Kane Richards. Not a threatening group, and without the wind playing much of a role, it was to be a day for the sprinters without a question.
Richards and Alvaréz were caught with 25 kilometers to go and the teams began to set up the bunch sprint. Movistar and Visma were the two teams that riders kept an eye on the most. In the final kilometer they were the strongest, Fernando Gaviria was the first rider to launch his sprint but completely lost his power in the final meters.
Out of his wheel came Olav Kooij who stormed to his first win of the season, beating Pavel Bittner and Uno-X's Erlend Blikra. The Dutch rider also becomes the first leader of the race.
| 1 | Kooij Olav | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 04:27:19 |
| 2 | Bittner Pavel | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 3 | Blikra Erlend | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 4 | D'Amato Andrea | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 5 | Pluimers Rick | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 6 | Gaviria Fernando | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 7 | Turgis Anthony | Team TotalEnergies | + 00 |
| 8 | Jeannière Emilien | Team TotalEnergies | + 00 |
| 9 | Giaimi Luca | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 10 | Nizzolo Giacomo | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 11 | Kanter Max | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 12 | Boúglas Georgios | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 13 | Capiot Amaury | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 14 | Vermeersch Florian | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 15 | Álvarez Rodrigo | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 16 | Quick Blake | Roojai Insurance | + 00 |
| 17 | Biermans Jenthe | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 18 | Hayter Ethan | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 19 | Lozouet Léandre | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 20 | Guerreiro Ruben | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 21 | Brenner Marco | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 22 | Paleni Enzo | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 23 | Masuda Nariyuki | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 24 | Flynn Sean | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 25 | Aular Orluis | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 26 | Rondel Mathys | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 27 | McLay Daniel | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 28 | Vermaerke Kevin | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 29 | Garofoli Gianmarco | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 30 | Ulissi Diego | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 31 | Yates Adam | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 32 | Delgado David | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 33 | Warbasse Lawrence | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 34 | Manzin Lorrenzo | Team TotalEnergies | + 00 |
| 35 | Fredheim Stian | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 36 | Fancellu Alessandro | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 37 | Paret-Peintre Valentin | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 38 | Svestad-Bårdseng Embret | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 39 | Phonarjthan Patompob | Roojai Insurance | + 00 |
| 40 | Al Hsani Mundher | Oman | + 00 |
| 41 | Barguil Warren | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 42 | Charmig Anthon | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 43 | Poels Wout | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 44 | Vine Jay | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 45 | Azparren Xabier | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 46 | Mazuki Fakhruddin | Terengganu Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 47 | Weiss Fabian | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 48 | Braz Afonso Clément | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 49 | Harper Chris | Team Jayco-AlUla | + 00 |
| 50 | Thimachai Kongphob | Roojai Insurance | + 00 |
| 51 | Hellemose Asbjørn | Team Jayco-AlUla | + 00 |
| 52 | Gaudu David | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 53 | Engelhardt Felix | Team Jayco-AlUla | + 00 |
| 54 | Garcia Carlos | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 55 | Garibbo Nicolo | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 56 | Vansevenant Mauri | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 57 | De Pretto Davide | Team Jayco-AlUla | + 00 |
| 58 | García Cortina Iván | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 59 | Howson Damien | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 60 | de la Cruz David | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 61 | Germani Lorenzo | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 62 | Vinokurov Nicolas | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 63 | Zeray Nahom | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 64 | Dalby Simon | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 65 | Camprubí Marcel | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 66 | Bregnhøj Mathias | Terengganu Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 67 | Kulset Magnus | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 68 | Uijtdebroeks Cian | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 69 | Berhe Welay | Team Jayco-AlUla | + 00 |
| 70 | Cras Steff | Team TotalEnergies | + 00 |
| 71 | Alyaqoobi Abdulrahman | Oman | + 00 |
| 72 | Cabedo Hernandez Marc | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 73 | Laengen Vegard Stake | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 74 | Eriksson Lucas | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 75 | Eyob Metkel | Terengganu Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 76 | Double Paul | Team Jayco-AlUla | + 00 |
| 77 | Aparicio Mario | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 78 | Vervaeke Louis | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 79 | Faura José Luis | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 80 | Ries Michel | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 81 | Madouas Valentin | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 82 | Badilatti Matteo | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 83 | Kruijswijk Steven | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 84 | Donnenwirth Tom | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 85 | Budiak Anatolii | Terengganu Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 86 | Jousseaume Alan | Team TotalEnergies | + 00 |
| 87 | Majka Rafal | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 88 | Molard Rudy | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 89 | Mohd Shabri Muhammad Haizam | Terengganu Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 90 | Fayolle Jean-Loup | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 91 | Ravbar Anze | UAE Team Emirates | + 00 |
| 92 | Koyama Tomoya | Burgos Burpellet BH | + 00 |
| 93 | Al Riyami Mazin | Oman | + 00 |
| 94 | Mulubrhan Henok | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 95 | Mattio Pietro | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 96 | Miltiadis Andreas | Roojai Insurance | + 00 |
| 97 | Gesbert Elie | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | + 00 |
| 98 | Roosen Timo | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 99 | van Engelen Adne | Terengganu Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 100 | Ishibashi Manabu | JCL Team Ukyo | + 00 |
| 101 | Behrens Niklas | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 102 | Alrahbi Said | Oman | + 00 |
| 103 | Warlop Jordi | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 104 | Pedrero Antonio | Movistar Team | + 00 |
| 105 | Dhondt Robbe | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 106 | Wirtgen Luc | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 107 | Hopkins Dylan | Roojai Insurance | + 00 |
| 108 | Reinderink Pepijn | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 109 | Pedersen Henrik | Uno-X Mobility | + 00 |
| 110 | Naberman Tim | Team Picnic PostNL | + 19 |
| 111 | Soupe Geoffrey | Team TotalEnergies | + 53 |
| 112 | Boulahoite Rayan | Team TotalEnergies | + 53 |
| 113 | Løland Sakarias Koller | Uno-X Mobility | + 56 |
| 114 | Cimolai Davide | Movistar Team | + 56 |
| 115 | Wallin Rasmus Bøgh | Uno-X Mobility | + 02:31 |
| 116 | Toneatti Davide | XDS Astana Team | + 00 |
| 117 | Richards Kane | Roojai Insurance | + 04:07 |
| 118 | Bettles Carter | Roojai Insurance | + 04:07 |
| 119 | Al-Wahibi Mohammed | Oman | + 04:40 |
| DNS | Vanhoucke Harm | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | |
| DNS | Nordhagen Jørgen | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | |
| DNF | Mohd Zariff Nur Aiman | Terengganu Cycling Team |
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling forRafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
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