For the first time since being forced out of the first Grand Tour of his career through illness, Team Visma | Lease a Bike's
Olav Kooij will return to racing at the upcoming
Baloise Belgium Tour.
"The goal was to win a stage, so if that succeeds, that's great. I look back on it with a very special feeling," Kooij reflects of his debut Giro d'Italia experience in conversation with Team Visma | Lease a Bike's
official website, having the highlight of victory on stage 9 to look back upon. Sadly though, that was the 22-year-old's last action at the Giro as he abandoned on the first rest day. "Yes, that was quite a turnaround. At that point you are no longer preoccupied with the euphoria, but the feeling of illness dominates. It is hard to leave the race when you know there are still some sprint opportunities to come."