Kooij stays longer with Team Jumbo-Visma

Kooij stays longer with Team Jumbo-Visma

Olav Kooij will remain with Team Jumbo-Visma for the next two seasons. The 21-year-old, homegrown sprinter aims to develop further and participate in the spring classics. He sees Team Jumbo-Visma as the best team to fulfill these ambitions.

Kooij joined the Jumbo-Visma Development Team in 2020. He transitioned to the World Tour in the spring of 2021 after several victories in the U23 category. He immediately scored his first professional wins and continued his rapid development. In 2022, he won no less than 12 times, including his first WorldTour victory. The 21-year-old rider continued to win this season, while also riding vigorously in several spring classics.

"I'm thrilled to stay with this team for another two years", Kooij said. "I have developed well over the past three years and feel at home here. I can get the best out of myself here regarding the team's coaching and race programme. Over the next two years, I want to maintain this momentum."

"Over the last few years, we have made logical steps in my racing programme. We will do that again in the next two years."

Olav Kooij

"We are thrilled and proud that Olav will stay with our team", Sporting Director Merijn Zeeman adds. "Over the past three months, we have thoroughly discussed Olav's sporting future with our team. We have been open and honest with one another regarding the possibilities and impossibilities. Everyone is aware of our team's and our riders' strengths. Together, we consider our result goals, but our riders' growth is also vital. I am happy that Olav still agrees with this philosophy."

Kooij wants to develop as a top sprinter and play a role in the spring classics. "Over the last few years, we have made logical steps in my racing programme. We will do that again in the next two years. I want to continue to win sprints, but I also demonstrated last spring that I could compete in certain spring classics. I want to develop in these two areas."

Zeeman: "We have high expectations for Olav, which means he will be racing a grand tour next year. In addition to sprinting at the highest level, we think he has potential for the classics. He fits perfectly into our strategy for the classics."

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