Olav Kooij: "In this World Championship course, it's better to be in the lead than to have to move mountains in making adjustments later"

One might not realize, but at 21 years old, Kooij could also have started amongst the U23 riders in Glasgow. "For me, it was quite clear early on that I wouldn't do that. After last year's U23 World Championship, I felt that I was done with it and that chapter was closed," says the man who extended his contract with Jumbo-Visma until 2025.

This is not surprising, considering Kooij already has 22 (!) pro victories to his name and has already made a name for himself at several U23 World Championships. "The third place in Leuven and the finals last year in Australia were great experiences, but I felt I had reached a point where I could participate in a World Championship among the professionals. That's something to look forward to," he explains his choice.

Kooij flew into Edinburgh directly from the Tour of Poland, where he won the fourth stage, Thursday night via Katowice and Frankfurt. On Friday, he completed his first recon laps on the course in Glasgow, and then took some time out of his busy schedule for this website in the late afternoon. "My legs were already good in Poland, so I hope that will be the case on Sunday too."

About the course, he mainly draws the same conclusions as his colleagues. "We knew in advance that the lap contained a lot of turns, but this was confirmed during the recon. Actually, it was even more than we thought. This will definitely have an impact on the peloton, because it's not something we often encounter in the WorldTour. However, the diverse group of riders at the starting line, exemplifies the true allure of the World Championships."

When we ask ex-skater Kooij about his cornering technique, he laughs. "My cornering technique is okay, I have also ridden quite a few criteriums in the past. But I'm not a cyclo-cross or mountain bike rider," says the high-octane rider, who in Glasgow doesn't necessarily want to rely solely on his sprint. "Offensive racing could be advantageous on this course. Normally, if you have the legs to do something in the final, it's best to wait for that, but on this course, it's better to be in the lead than to have to move mountains in making adjustments later.”

Hence, Kooij was also labeled as the 'wildcard'. “I think my role is not clearly definable, as it will depend on my legs and how the race unfolds. These are two factors that will determine my role," says the sprinter, who also mentions the strength of his country. "With Mathieu, you have a clear favorite and leader, and with Dylan, you have someone whose strengths are known to everyone.”