Dutchman Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) took an impressive victory in the Clásica de Almería this Sunday. Kooij, who was one of the favorites for the title, fulfilled expectations thanks to the help of his teammate Wout van Aert, who did an impressive job in the final start.
Initial escape with 6 cyclists
The 2024 Clásica de Almería consisted of a 192.3km route with several demanding climbs, including Alto de Celín, Alto de La Alqueria and Alto de Fuente Marbella. The race was punctuated by an early breakaway by six cyclists, who managed to maintain a five-minute lead for most of the race.
However, in the last part of the race, the peloton accelerated and finally reached the breakaways with 15 km to go. This marked the start of an exciting race to the finish line, where the teams began fighting for prime position for the final sprint and Kooij overtook Matteo Moschetti, the previous year’s winner, in the final sprint. Despite Moschetti’s late effort, Kooij remained calm and crossed the finish line first.
Wout van Aert’s role and Kooij’s victory
At the end of the race, Wout van Aert, Kooij’s Visma-Lease a Bike teammate, made an impressive charge, taking the lead and setting up the finish for Kooij. Kooij, in turn, took advantage of Van Aert’s work, launching himself into the sprint and crossing the finish line in first place.
Watch the arrival
Check the results of the Clásica de Almeria
