We are on the second day in Oman, and the Netherlands has already marked a two out of two against other nations. It seems like a recurring theme, but it's clear that the Dutch athletes have come here to get serious and do a general rehearsal ahead of the major European races. Today it was Olav Kooij's turn, who in the inaugural stage was the protagonist of a literally royal sprint with which he imposed himself on all competitors, confirming himself as one of the riders to watch when it comes to bunch sprints.

"There couldn't have been a more perfect start to the season, and I must say that today everything went perfectly, we didn't make any mistakes. I had never been to Oman before, but I chose it to test myself and try different types of routes. It has become a habit to start the season in the Middle East, even though it's not always easy to race in these temperatures. When I left home in the Netherlands it was winter, and racing already yesterday in the heat was tough, a big shock that however helped me to get used to it. We knew that the final kilometer would be the most difficult, it was crucial to stay at the front approaching the last left turn. At the finish line, we could see the banner, it might have seemed close, but it wasn't. I knew I had to stay calm and choose the right moment, and I'm happy I managed to do that," explains Olav Kooij to tuttobiciweb right after the finish. Just yesterday, the strong Dutch sprinter had told us about his difficulty in adapting to these days' high temperatures, but after this success, it seems he has perfectly acclimatized.

What surprised most today in Oman was the incredible work of Visma Lease a Bike, led by a very young Pietro Mattio who did an incredible job of keeping the situation under control. "I came to Oman hunting for a stage, and with the team we knew very well that we would have to take full responsibility for controlling the race," Kooij continues. "All the team guys were fundamental, Pietro in particular completely put himself at my disposal throughout the day. He worked for a long time and showed he is ready for the big leap into the professional world. We are in Oman with a team of experienced athletes but also very young riders who have the opportunity to compare themselves with great champions and great realities. I believe this is a beautiful thing. Cycling grows quickly now, there are young talents ready to bloom, but they need to gain experience, to test themselves, to breathe the air of true cycling."

After this inaugural stage, Kooij's eyes are already set on the fourth stage where he will try to leave his mark again. After the Omani event, he will transfer to the UAE Tour and then move to the Italian calendar with Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo, before focusing on the Giro d'Italia.