Which team will Olav Kooij sign for?
There’s interest from Ineos, Tudor, Red Bull, Jayco, and Decathlon as we analyse the Dutch rider’s best options
Few would doubt that the most in demand and talented sprinter on the men’s transfer market this season is Olav Kooij. The Dutch rider is only 22 but has won close to 40 races already in his career and looks set to add to his Grand Tour stage-winning tally at the Giro d’Italia in May.
While a contract extension at Visma-Lease a Bike cannot be completely ruled out until he’s signed elsewhere, the logical move for Kooij would be to step into a new team - one that can guarantee him a start at the Tour de France and give him complete support in the majority of the races that he starts. He’s been at Visma throughout his career, and there’s clearly a strong bond in place, but rival teams can offer more - in a financial sense too - so it feels like only a matter of time before a transfer is in place.
Of course, Kooij could walk into any team in the WorldTour, and we understand that over a dozen have shown interest in the rider. Interest is one thing, though; having the right environment, finances, lead-out, culture, and overall package is another.
The teams currently closest to matching the rider’s profile and who are in the genuine hunt for his signature are Ineos Grenadiers, Tudor Pro Cycling, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Jayco AlUla, and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team.
In this feature, we look at all five teams and analyse the pros and cons of a transfer.
Ineos Grenadiers
Over the winter, it was clear that Ineos Grenadiers were after a sprinter. They made two approaches for Caleb Ewan but missed out on Kaden Groves, who would have arguably taken the team to the next level with immediate effect. Ewan might still have a strong season but he’s on a one-year deal and Ineos can’t afford to wait eight months to see if the Australian works out. Kooij on the other hand, would fit with the team seamlessly, especially after they brought track sprint expert Mehdi Kordi over from the Dutch national team for the start of the season. He’s already working with several riders and there’s a solid lead-out group within the team that includes Ben Swift, Sam Watson, Magnus Sheffield and maybe even Filippo Ganna and Josh Tarling.
It’s clear that Ineos Grenadiers aren’t going to return to the top of the tree in Grand Tours anytime soon, and in order to remain relevant they’ll need to diversify and win more races. Off the back of their worst year in 2024, they need to up their win tally, and Kooij offers them that outlet they desperately need. They’ve not had a pure sprinter at the Tour in his peak since Mark Cavendish in 2012 but Kooij would tick every box, and take the pressure off GC riders like Arensmen and Rodriguez.