Olav Kooij explains why he disappeared from Tour de France stage 7 sprint

Olav Kooij delivered a ruthless victory in Wednesday’s first sprint opportunity at the Tour de France, but he was nowhere to be seen in Friday’s bunch finish in Bordeaux. The Decathlon CMA CGM rider eventually crossed the line in 23rd place. After the stage, the 24-year-old sprinter from Numansdorp explained what had gone wrong.

Kooij emerged victorious from the first stage designed for the sprinters, claiming his maiden Tour de France stage win. That made him one of the leading contenders for the second bunch sprint of the race. After a relatively uneventful stage, the peloton did indeed contest the victory in Bordeaux. However, while Tim Merlier powered to the win, Kooij never managed to become involved in the battle at the front.

Speaking to Eurosport shortly after the finish, the Dutchman analysed where things had started to unravel. “Once we came off the bridge, I think we were in a good position,” Kooij explained. “Then we lost a few places somewhere. After that, we got a little stuck in the washing machine. “We tried to get out of there with about a kilometre to go, but we never really managed to reach the front.”

Kooij had already spoken with sports director Mark Renshaw after crossing the line. Renshaw is responsible for Decathlon CMA CGM’s sprint group. “We haven’t really analysed it in depth yet, no,” Kooij said. “I think we’ll need to watch it back and discuss how everyone felt, but also what we could have done better.”

Kooij has Cees Bol and Daan Hoole as the two final riders in his lead-out, but he rejected the suggestion that the size of his sprint train had caused the disappointing result. “I think we showed in the first sprint that it is possible,” he said. “Besides, we don’t go into the sprints with only two riders. On a day like today, I think the entire team supports me.”

“I think we have to learn from today’s stage and try to improve,” he admitted. Kooij will not have to wait long for another opportunity. Saturday’s eighth stage finishes in Bergerac and is expected to provide the sprinters with another chance, although the final kilometres should be more technical than the approach to Bordeaux. “We’re already looking forward to tomorrow,” Kooij concluded, immediately turning his attention to the next potential sprint finish.

Bol also gave his account to the NOS afterward. “It went pretty well. For the last 4 kilometers, it was basically just the two of us. Then, coming out of that tunnel, I think we could have moved up to the front. He wasn’t right on my wheel. The last thing I saw was him on the right side of the fence 300 meters before the finish. I’m afraid he got boxed in.”

That turned out to be the case, in the end. “That’s a shame. But hey, you have to take a gamble every now and then.” Bol also noticed that Hoole had gone out a bit earlier than usual. “Daan had a tough day yesterday. He was still able to help us out really well, but he’s not at his usual level. You end up lacking a bit of that power. Today, Olav wasn’t able to break away effectively.”

Bol was talking about taking a gamble, but what did he mean by that? “If we start riding in the wind even earlier, I’ll be off the hook even sooner. If the two of you wait too long, there’s a chance you’ll get boxed in. Now Olav was on his own in the last 500 meters, which makes it even harder. Very often he still has the class to break free, but you can’t expect it to work every time,” said the Dutchman.