š„ Visma | Lease a Bike loses Kooij for the time being ā a major blow, but what exactly happened?
CyclingSunday, 30 March 2025 at 19:03
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleOlav Kooij had a nasty crash at Gent-Wevelgem. The Dutch sprinter racing for Visma | Lease a Bike was fully involved in the race and responded to an attack by Mads Pedersen, but crashed at that exact moment. Kooij, who is expected to start the Giro in five weeks, was visibly in a lot of pain in his left arm and, unsurprisingly, couldnāt continue. Later, a broken collarbone was confirmed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kooij, who also crashed on Wednesday in Classic Brugge-De Panne, was positioned as the clear team leader for Visma | Lease a Bike at Gent-Wevelgem. "Kooij has made a step forward this winter. He deserves our full support in Gent-Wevelgem," team director Grischa Niermann said before the race.
The Dutchman, who finished eighth in Milan-San Remo, was well placed on the Kemmelberg and was riding right on Pedersenās wheel on the first of the three plug streets when the Dane launched his attack. While fellow sprinter Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) suffered a flat tire, we suddenly didnāt see Kooij in the footage anymore.
It turned out Kooij had crashed ā though there was no footage of the incident ā and was suddenly seen sitting in the grass on the side of the road, clearly in pain on the left side of his arm. The classic "broken collarbone position" was immediately apparent. Kooij did not get back on his bike and exited Gent-Wevelgem after his crash. Doctors at the hospital later confirmed the fear.
The sprinter was also scheduled to race Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, but after his unfortunate crash at Gent-Wevelgem, that plan can now be scrapped. After that, the Dutchman was set to go on a high-altitude training camp, and then head to Eschborn-Frankfurt to build toward the Giro dāItalia, which begins on Friday, May 9.
Read more below the photo!
Visma | Lease a Bike: "All signs point to a collarbone fracture"
Team director Arthur van Dongen told IDLProCycling.com after Gent-Wevelgem what he knew at that moment about his team leaderās condition. "Olav missed a corner. He was on Pedersenās wheel, exactly where he needed to be. That was strong and well done. There was a corner in that section, and thatās where he slipped. All signs point to a broken collarbone." That was confirmed shortly afterward. Pedersen also said he heard it happen: "But I didnāt have time to look back. I hope Olav is okay," said the Dane.
Van Dongen was clearly disappointed by the situation. "If he hadnāt crashed there ā and I know āifā doesnāt count ā I think he wouldāve been pulled up to the front by Pedersen without much effort. Victor was already up there, and Kooij couldāve stayed with them for a long time. Itās tough to take, but it is what it is. The fact that he could follow Mads shows he has taken a really impressive step forward in the classics."
Whatās the prevailing feeling at Visma | Lease a Bike? "Sh*t, bad luck... The fact that Olav is out is what dominates now. But it is what it is. Weāll have to wait and see what the final verdict is. Iām afraid weāll have to adjust our plans, but letās not get ahead of ourselves," Van Dongen concluded.
Video: Kooij in serious pain after crash in Gent-Wevelgem
Read also
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
IDL-productions
2026 Vuelta a EspaƱa route | 5 stages, 2 winners so far: will a third join them?
Love cycling and looking for an internship? Join IDL Pro Cycling!
From the Scottish Borders to 4th place in Monaco: the rapid rise of Vuelta a EspaƱa debutant Callum Thornley
The British Invasion: Brennan, Hayter, Tarling, and Thornley put the Brits front and centre at the Vuelta a EspaƱa
After struggling to finish with a broken ankle on stage 4, Cian Uijtdebroeks' suffering comes to an end at the Vuelta a EspaƱa
Latest Cycling News
2026 Vuelta a EspaƱa stage 8 preview | Visma counting on a powerhouse in a tricky finale
Skjelmose and Carapaz go from Tour de France highs to Vuelta lows: 'It's kind of an experimentā
Tadej PogaÄar responds to suggestions that he was frustrated in the Vuelta: 'Happy or not happy, the day is over'
Enric Mas saw a frustrated Tadej PogaÄar on stage 7 of the Vuelta a EspaƱa: 'Thatās why he rode that way'
Wout van Aert knows that the battle for green with PogaÄar is going all the way: 'Weāre on the right track'
Popular Cycling News
New Visma documentary shows a frustrated Jonas Vingegaard claim the Tour de France route was 'made for PogaÄar
2026 Vuelta a EspaƱa start list & dropouts | INEOS and EF Education lose riders on stage 6
2026 Vuelta a EspaƱa route | 5 stages, 2 winners so far: will a third join them?
Onley did the exact opposite of what team manager Thomas said on Vuelta stage 6: āSo I was useless'
Vuelta a EspaƱa 2026 Standings | Van Aert in green, Pogacar extends lead
Latest Comments
- - Enric saying ālimit the damageā feels right, but he canāt keep giving Pog 5ā10 seconds every summit. Minor gripe: the article glosses over Gallās wattsāwouldāve loved some data. Grande etapa, pero faltan nĆŗmeros, no?lindae28-08-2026
- - Red Bull-BORA with RogliÄ a minute backādoes that gap matter this early or is it normal to let PogaÄar have a cushion before the high mountains/time trial? Also, is Stage 9 a proper queen stage or just media hype?cadencekingm28-08-2026
- - Quick question: why did Decathlon take it up if it helped Pog in the end? Wouldnāt it have been better to sit on UAEās tempo and wait? Iām still figuring out how these team tactics work on summit finishes.julien28-08-2026
- - Not sure I buy Masā āfrustratedā angle. Pogacar just rode the numbers when Gall opened the gap, then closed and added six seconds for free. If thatās irritation, I hope my GC leader gets angry like that every day.samanthak28-08-2026
- - Gall looked sharp today. That Decathlon CMA CGM pull on the last climb actually made sense tacticallyāforce UAE to respond, then Felix goes. Pogās counter was vintage: measure, then sting. Stage 9 is going to be carnage if heās already this comfy.patriciaw28-08-2026
- - Slightly sceptical about the piece framing it as frustration. The quotes from Pogacar read like he was in control. Maybe weāre overreading the body language?tourdeforce928-08-2026
- - āWeāre here to win the GC, not to mess around.ā That line says it all. He saved UAEās matches and still gained time. Efficient as ever.andrewf28-08-2026
- - Can someone explain why Decathlon was pacing for Gall if he couldnāt follow when Pog pushed on? Is that a normal tactic or did it backfire?gearguru3328-08-2026
- - Mas stirring the pot a bit there. Donāt think Pog was āangry,ā more like opportunistic when the gap opened. That steady-pace surge is his trademark. GC contenders behind must be fuming.patriciaw28-08-2026
- - Loved how Pogacar downplayed the drama. Classic Tadej: calm, clinical, and straight to the point. If Decathlon want to light it up for Gall, heāll just ride them off his wheel anyway.lindae28-08-2026
Loading
