What a day for the team Visma | Lease a Bike ! Barely a few minutes after confirmation of the success of Matthew Brennan at the photo-finish on the Lidl Germany Tourit is another sprinter of the Dutch formation which distinguished itself and raised its arms, this time in Belgium: Olav Kooij ! Only 7th in the 1st stage of Renewi Tour The day before, the young Batavian masterfully rectified the shot this Thursday by very easily dominating this second massive sprint in two days, thus offering his 7th bouquet of the season. It is a length on the line The Czech Pavel Bittner (Picnic Postnl) and the Belgian Milan Fretin (Cofidis). Only 7th on arrival, the general leader Tim Merlier (Sudal Quick-Step) sees the winner of the day returned to perfect equality … but he still keeps his tunic!
VIDEO – The summary of the 1st stage Wednesday
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Three runners equal to the general … Tim Merlier remains the leader!
However, at the launch of the sprint, Olav Kooij seemed to be locked up and far from being able to play the win, while Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) launched perfectly in the lead Jensen Plowright right in front Tim Merlier. But the Dutch sprinter finally found the opening and came out of the ball with a lot of speed thanks to the aspiration, exceeding like a ball all its rivals. To the general, three men stand in the same second, namely the two winners of the first stages, but also Dries De Bondt (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale).
The Belgian has indeed continued his harvest of bonus during the famous “Green Kilometer”, which offer three opportunities every day to collect 3, 2 and 1 seconds in the same kilometer close to the final. After pocketing 7 “the day before, De Bondt added 3 this Thursday to his total, which brings him to the height of the two winners. But in the cumulation of places, it is the two sprinters who have the last word, and the blue and green jersey of leader remains ultimately on the shoulders of Merlier.
