🎥 Pro Behrens switched to aero helmet in the heat of Oman for Kooij: "Niklas is new, but worked very well"

Kooij was asked by the TV interviewer in Oman to reflect on the race. "We really wanted to go for this stage, so we took control early on. I have to thank my teammates just for making sure it ended in a sprint. After that, I had an incredible lead-in to the final few hundred meters—then it was up to me. I found the right wheel and was able to launch my sprint at the perfect moment."

And what a setup it was. Pietro Mattio, the young Italian normally racing for Visma | Lease a Bike’s development team, spent the entire day solo chasing a four-man breakaway. Later, it was Steven Kruijswijk’s job to keep the team at the front before Nikias Behrens and Dan McLay delivered a flawless lead-out for their sprinter. It wasn’t an easy task, especially considering Visma | Lease a Bike had lost one of its seven riders, Jorgen Nordhagen, to illness before the start, leaving them a man down.

Behrens—wearing a closed helmet, something Kooij jokingly pointed out afterward—kept the pace high and controlled, even after a close call with a Movistar rider. His work ensured Kooij could position himself on Fernando Gaviria’s wheel with 1 km to go, just as McLay kicked off the final acceleration. And Gaviria’s wheel? A great one to follow, as the Colombian is known for launching his sprint early. "I know Fernando is fast, but he went early, and I was able to follow him. That gave me the perfect opportunity to capitalize," said Kooij, proving once again his sharp race instincts.

"It's nice that the zero is off the board," sports director Maarten Wynants also observed. "With Daniel and Niklas, we had an unexpected lead-out for Olav. Daniel is very experienced in this work, while Niklas is just starting to look at the pros. We were curious to see how that combination would work out. We can conclude that it worked very well. It wasn't an easy day for us. As promised, Pietro shows himself to the world and does an excellent job in the peloton. It was a victory for the whole team. That makes it all the more beautiful."

And just like that, Olav Kooij turned his second race day in Oman into a victory, adding another win to his name at just 23 years old. "Every race has its own unique elements, and this one is no different. But after yesterday’s Muscat Classic (won by Rick Pluimers), we quickly adapted and adjusted to the race conditions," said Kooij, who did not finish the one-day event.

Saturday and Sunday will bring more challenging stages, where Visma | Lease a Bike is expected to shift its focus to Cian Uijtdebroeks, especially after Jorgen Nordhagen’s withdrawal. "Climbing is tougher for me. This stage suited me well, but the next few days won’t be as favorable," Kooij admitted. "We’ll see how it goes. Right now, I have the leader’s jersey, so we’re going to enjoy this win first. Then, we’ll decide how to approach the next stage." Stage 2 will take the peloton to Yitti Hills, where the punchers will likely take center stage in Oman.