This Year I Feel Even Stronger” – Olav Kooij Sets His Sights on Milan-San Remo After Tirreno-Adriatico Victory

A dash victory after a difficult hilly level at Tirreno-Adriatico is a transparent signal of a Milan-San Remo contender and Olav Kooij added his call to the record of sprinters who may win L. a. Primavera along with his victory in Trasacco on Thursday.

The Visma-Rent a Motorcycle rider is driving Tirreno-Adriatico for the second one time in his profession hoping that it’s going to give him the shape for Milan-San Remo. With Wout van Aert opting to coach at altitude for the cobbled Classics as an alternative of racing Tirreno-Adriatico, Kooij may have management standing within the workforce for Milan-San Remo along Alex Zingle and in all probability Christophe Laporte who might make his 2025 season debut after sickness disrupted his iciness.

With Tadej Pogačar anticipated to spark a difficult and selective Milan-San Remo as soon as once more and with an assault at the Poggio, Kooij’s possibilities might appear narrow. However sprinters can by no means be written off at Milan-San Remo.

Kooij completed an excellent if little-noticed 14th in his debut within the race ultimate March. He used to be in a chase team that completed at the back of Philipsen, Pogačar and the remainder of the attackers however used to be most effective 35 seconds at the back of the dash for victory. 

The Dutch sprinter survived the assaults at the early climbs prime within the central Italian Apennines after which fought to get again when echelons break up the race. He used to be lucky that Soudal-QuickStep rode onerous for Paul Magnier however Kooij used to be a ways quicker and tactically awesome within the swerving dash to the road.

“I just went for it,” he mentioned of the dash. “Initially everything went well. Thanks to the pacing of the boys I managed to survive the climb, but then I was surprised on the plateau by the echelons and we were stuck behind. Sometimes I thought we would come back and sometimes I lost hope a little but when we caught the attacks I was more determined. The goal was to win a stage and after a huge battle like today, that’s really nice.”

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Kooij gained two sprints on the Excursion of Oman however then fell unwell early within the UAE Excursion and used to be not able to problem big-name dash opponents Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan. He recovered to complete 2nd at the back of Philispen at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and is now hoping to height at Milan-San Remo, Vintage Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem.

Kooij may be in a freelance 12 months, with a number of groups prepared to signal him for 2026, together with Visma-Rent a Motorcycle, with whom he advanced by the use of their construction workforce. A victory or perhaps a podium at Milan-San Remo would alternate his profession trail, sprinting alternatives and income considerably.

Like many sprinters, Kooij is motivated through luck and self-confidence.

That unpredictability and that chance is what Milan-San Remo is all about. You all the time want to check out and win since you by no means understand how the general will move,” he said of La Classicissima.

“I don’t believe I will stick with the most efficient guys after they assault at the Poggio however if you are as regards to the highest of the Poggio and in a chase team, anything else can occur.

“Last year we saw everyone expected Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu an der Poel to go away but in the end, ten guys sprinted for victory and Jasper Philipsen, a sprinter, won it. That gives me hope and motivation.”