Teams & Riders The Cheetah of Numansdorp - Olav Kooij thread

[Jumbot]

So I think it's time to get this man a thread, seeing that De Lie and even someone like Foss already have one...
Today a first WT victory in Poland, 9th of the season... he's ready for some hype.
Looks more well rounded than Groenewegen, time will tell if he can get the same top speed...
We'll see, hopefully Jumbo takes good care of him

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Him and De Lie is probably the strongest pairing of 20-year-old sprinters the sport has ever seen in the same season.

He will need to move away from Jumbo at some point though. Will never get to do the sprints at the Tour with Van Aert there for starters, and with all the GC and classics riders in the team, it's hard to see Jumbo giving him the opportunities and support a top-level sprinter should consistently get. Given the amount of teams with good leadouts but no sprinter to capitalise right now (Bora, Intermarché, B&B with current signings), the market right now suits him better than it probably will when his contract runs out next year, but it is what it is.

 

[yaco]

One thing that is apparent is he is reliable at finding good position in the final - Reckon that De Lie is a touch quicker but both are the future of sprinting.

 

[cen]

Great win

View: https://youtu.be/01Kbv1_TFqA?t=639


Easy to see why Jumbo has no problem letting go of Gronewegen and Dekker.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Dude beats all the top sprinters in Sparkassen Münsterland Giro. He deserves support for a GT in 2023. Should move to new team in 2024

 

[Bolder]

IIRC even last year it was apparent he was a major talent. 15 wins this year is impressive; even at mostly lower-tier races he's showing he has a nose for the finish line.

 

[SafeBet]

Needs to find a new team as soon as his current contract ends.

 

[Netserk]

Needs to find a new team as soon as his current contract ends.

He's still very young, so what's the rush? He'll probably ride the Giro next year.

 

[yaco]

Do you think he will ride the Giro if Roglic agains targets the race ? He should be at this Vuelta - If UAE can bring Molano, then Jumbo could have brought Kooij.

 

[Netserk]

I think Rogla is unlikely to ride the Giro next year, and I don't think it's important for Kooij to already ride a GT this year given his age.

 

[Red Rick]

I think Rogla is unlikely to ride the Giro next year, and I don't think it's important for Kooij to already ride a GT this year given his age.

Very likely Kooij does the Giro. Somewhere i read Kuss was interested in Giro leadership without full team support, which lends itself to a versatile team at the Giro

 

[Valv.Piti]

The plan should be easy enough: Kuss and Koijj for the Giro, literally whole A squad to the Tour (Vinge, Rogla, Kuss, Wout) and at the very least Rogla in La Vuelta. Makes the most sense all around.

The interesting question is what domestiques Jumbo pick. Laporte might be the odd man out as much as I hate it.

 

[RedheadDane]

This thread is being awfully quiet considering he just won two stages in P-N.

 

[Netserk]

It will be good to see him and Milan fight for third in the sprinter hierarchy during the Giro.

 

[Netserk]

Are you including the Mountain Sprinter?

That's a whole separate ranking. He won't see any competition there during the Giro.

 

[Netserk]

Philipsen.

 

[scribers]

Strong finish in a hilly stage race. Bodes well for a career of wins in GTs

 

[Netserk]

Nvm I thought you meant 3rd best sprinter in Giro

Honestly, for a moment I thought Merlier wouldn't do the Giro.

 

[Netserk]

Depends on if he's checked day 1-3 profiles yet.

If only he had the luxury to do a Kittel '14.

 

[tobydawq]

If only he had the luxury to do a Kittel '14.

And Kittel '16.

It is one of my favourite cycling stats that at the time of his second stage win in 2016, he had won four Giro stages without a) ever having ridden a single kilometer in the Giro on Italian soil and b) ever having won a race in Italy at all.

 

[Netserk]

And Kittel '16.

In the leader's jersey he was forced to actually step foot in Italy. Easier to never go.

 

[tobydawq]

In the leader's jersey he was forced to actually step foot in Italy. Easier to never go.

True.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kooij is now the 2nd youngest mass sprint winner in the Giro ever, after Mario Cipollini and just ahead of Jonathan Milan, who were both 22 at the time as well.

Still think in pure speed/power he's probably not as good as the likes of Merlier, Milan and all, but he's more of a survivor sprinter. When the races are a little harder he has more left in the tank. Was also already top 15 in his first MSR and top 10 in GW. I see him as a future winner in both races if the racing goes his way.

 

[Red Rick]

Man actually hates the nickname in thread title

 

[SafeBet]

Man actually hates the nickname in thread title

Really?