"The Giro is a success for Kooij, but not yet for the team" - Experts argue if Team Visma | Lease a Bike have had good opening Giro week or not?
CyclingMonday, 13 May 2024 at 16:30
Having reached the first rest day at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, teams have the first chance to take stock and analyse how things have been going so far. For Team Visma | Lease a Bike it's been an up-and-down week, but the question is, has it been a success for them?
On Eurosport's Kop over Kop podcast, the experts are notably at odds over whether or not Visma can reflect on the first 9 stages with happiness or disappointment. "Winning a stage with Olav Kooij means it's certainly a success for Kooij, while they also have Cian Uijtdebroeks. He was also in good shape and I think he will finish the Giro very well with more than a top 10. That is good for him," says ex-pro Bobbie Traksel. "This gives peace of mind. The victory also gives Uijtdebroeks peace of mind. It is not necessary. The victory has been won. The Giro has been a success."
For Jeroen Vanbelleghem however, a successful Giro d'Italia will need much more than a bunch sprint win to be considered a success for a team like Team Visma | Lease a Bike. "It's the best team in the world. That's what they say themselves. You can't say that the Giro has been a success after nine days with a stage victory," he explains. "If this were the end of the Giro and they finished fifth and won a stage. Then it would be really great. But we are not in Rome yet, are we? Then you cannot say that it was a success. If Uijtdebroeks is there in two days falls through, falls out of the top 10 and you don't win anything anymore. Then it's not a success, is it?"
"They now have a different status. The Giro is a success for Kooij, but not yet for the team. He can still succeed and also with Uijtdebroeks in the fifth place, things are going very well," concludes Thijs van Amerongen.
Use the poll down below to share your opinion of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Giro d'Italia start!
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Have Team Visma | Lease a Bike had a successful Giro d'Italia so far?
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santiagobenites18-05-2025
The "no" votes are frankly inexplicable. Their best rider crashed out before he even got here. Their senior road captain crashed out on stage 1. Their best climbing domestique has crashed multiple times and their best remaining lead-out rider has crashed out of the race entirely. And those are just the worst incidents; there have been others.
And yet still they have a sprinter with a stage win and a GC rider 5th overall and in contention for a podium. No, it's not like 2023, but that isn't the question. Given the circumstances, they have done surprisingly well.
I think that some people have interpreted the bad luck as a lack of success, but you are correct in pointing out that they're doing very well considering the crashed and abandonments.
Agreed. Considering they are depleted in terms of their best riders are out injured. I think most of theirbest riders will be back later this year, albeit lack of form under them. But, that is expected from those who return from injury lay-offs anyway