“You know it’s coming, but it’s still the end of a chapter” – Olav Kooij closes Visma | Lease a Bike era before joining Decathlon

Olav Kooij has put an end to his chapter with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, after six fruitful seasons in which he has become one of the fastest sprinters in the peloton, getting 47 professional wins.

The first edition of the Tour of Holland was the perfect place for the Dutch star to say goodbye, although he was unable to gift his team a farewell victory. The final stage was mostly flat, but it slipped away when a late breakaway, including eventual winner Danny van Poppel, managed to hold off the chasing peloton.

After crossing the finish line in sixth place, Kooij spoke to In de Leiderstrui about the race, the challenges of the week, and his upcoming move to Decathlon CMA CGM.

Visma entered the last stage under pressure, with Christophe Laporte wearing the orange leader’s jersey and the team short on riders following Bart Lemmen’s crash and wrist injury.

“I already knew there would probably be less control,” Kooij said. “There were fewer World Tour teams, smaller squads, and not many top sprinters. We started with just five riders, including two from the development team, so it wasn’t guaranteed to end in a sprint. Even Christophe helping didn’t make much difference.”

Kooij admitted that defending the general classification limited his own sprinting opportunities. “The GC naturally took priority, so it was hard for us. That cost a lot of energy and, in the end, also the chance for a bunch sprint.”

Despite leaving without a win, he praised the race’s revival. “I’m really happy the Tour of Holland is back on the calendar. It’s impressive what they’ve built, though there are still things that can be improved,” he said.

Kooij expressed some criticism about the course design and safety. “Take that gravel section, in my opinion, it just wasn’t necessary. You shouldn’t go looking for that kind of danger,” he remarked about the stretch initially planned for the final stage, which was removed before the start.

“And for next year, it would be great if we could race with police escort. On Friday in Limburg, we were thinking more about safety than about the race itself. The last two days were good, though, so it’s definitely possible.”

The Tour of Holland marked the end of Kooij’s six-season spell with Visma | Lease a Bike. “You know it’s coming, but it’s still the end of a chapter,” he reflected. “We didn’t plan a farewell party, we’re all happy to go home and get some rest.”

He looked back fondly on his years with the team, choosing what he thinks is the best memory. “I’ve made many great memories and friendships, which is really nice. I started as a young rider in the development team, then came my first win, my first pro win, my first World Tour win, and finally a victory in a Grand Tour. That’s what makes it so special. If I had to pick one highlight, that first win in the Giro stands out.”

From January 1, Kooij will begin a new chapter with Decathlon CMA CGM, formerly Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team, where he hopes to continue his progress as one of the sport’s top young sprinters. 

“When you’re at the end of your contract, the talks start,” he said. “The program was important to me, with sprinting as a priority. The support and equipment were also key factors.”

Kooij is not the only top talent joining Decathlon next season. Tiesj Benoot, Tobias Lund Andresen, Matthew Riccitello, Daan Hoole and Gregor Mühlberger are other big names that will arrive to the team in 2026. 28 men are under contract for next season, which means the team can still sign two additional riders in the offseason.