Olav Kooij had to bow his head to tim Merlier again on Saturday in the Penultimate Stage of the Renewi Tour. The Belgian was the best in the bunch sprint for the second time. Mathieu van der Poel Kept Calm in His Hunt for the Overall Victory.
The Stage to Belgian Bilzen-Hoeselt was an Opportunity for the Sprinters in Advance, But a Group of Escapees, including Belgian Dries de Bondt, Seemed to Thwart That in the Final Phase. They were only caught a few kilometers from the finish line.
As a result, there was still a mass sprint in Bilzen-Hoeselt. Kooij was the first to start, but on the other side of the road, Merlier was much faster than the dutchman, who finished third behind pavel bittner or team picnic postnl. Kooij was the best in the Second Stage of the Renewi Tour on Thursday.
Van der Poel did not make a bid for the leader’s jersey after his stage victory on Friday, so the decision will follow on Sunday in the final stage to Leuven. The Brabander is Only One Second Behind Leader Arnaud de Lie in the General Classification.
The Final Stage, with some Nasty Climbs on a Local Circuit, Seems to Be Tailor-Made for van der Poel. The 2023 World Champion is Preparing for the Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland Next Month in the Renewi Tour.
The Renewi Tour Has had to do without Fabio Jakobsen Since Friday Afternoon. The Dutchman Crashed on Friday and Turned Out to Have Broken His Collarbone, HIS Team Picnic PostNL Reported Before the Start of Saturday. He will be out of action for the time being.