The first stage of the ZLM Tour ended in a sprint. Cycling legend Jeroen Blijlevens from Rijen expects that the next four stages will also be won by a sprinter, although the wind could still play a role on Thursday. It’s a luxury for sprinters. Blijlevens therefore does not understand that more top sprinters do not participate in the race through Zeeland, Limburg and Brabant.
“The Netherlands really lends itself to sprint stages, with all flat roads,” says the former sprinter. “A few years ago, a lot of good sprinters came to the ZLM Tour, in preparation for the Tour de France. That’s different now. That also has to do with the date, it is slightly earlier on the calendar. You see that sprinters are now opting for the Dauphiné, Tour de Suisse or other races.”
“A lot of other competitions have also been added, which makes it difficult”, continues Blijlevens. Still, he would still choose to participate in the ZLM Tour. “As a sprinter I prefer to run a small race to sprint. To get a feeling. You see a Dylan Groenewegen, who is just short of sprinting in the Dauphiné. Maybe he will come out of that race with a very good feeling in terms of fitness, but he lacks the feeling to win.”
“I often compare it to a striker who has been humbling for his first goal for a long time.”
And that feeling is very important for riders. Especially for sprinters, who feel the pressure every chance to finish the team’s work. Blijlevens often rode the Tour of Sweden himself, to grab the feeling of winning and take it to a bigger tour.
“I often compare it to a striker who scores his first goal, while he has been struggling with it for a long time. It often comes after the first. That is why it is so important to win before the Tour de France, even if it is in a less big race.”
Olav Kooij already had that feeling. And with the win in the first stage of the ZLM Tour, he can relax in the other stages. “We came here with the aim of winning a stage, and we succeeded right away in the first. We couldn’t wish for a better start,” said the young rider of Team Jumbo-Visma. “I had a good feeling throughout the game. We have taken initiative with the team. And if you get that confidence, that helps too. I’m happy to finish it like this.”
“What you see happening in the last 25 kilometers of a sprint stage is really beautiful.”
Many riders tried to escape, but did not get away. Blijlevens, however, did not see the team of winner Kooij far enough in front three kilometers before the end. “They were still quite far from behind. I would have gotten a little nervous in my time. That is why it is only extra clever how Kooij manages to finish this technical finish.”
Omroep Brabant will exclusively broadcast the last hour of the second leg online and on television from 3.10 pm.