Newly appointed sports director Jesper Mørkøv, who had a successful debut in Oman, sees plenty of opportunities but also emphasizes the importance of development. According to Mørkøv, the main focus is on refining the sprint train around Kooij. “Our primary goal is to maintain the good momentum with the sprint train. We are aiming for stage wins with Olav, but we also want to further optimize the collaboration between him, Daniel McLay, and Niklas Behrens during the race. Additionally, we have Thomas Gloag and Bart Lemmen, who will get the chance to ride for their own results in the two mountain stages. They will also be keeping an eye on the overall classification.”

Kooij looks forward to the UAE Tour with confidence, boosted by his strong performance in Oman. “The Tour of Oman was definitely a success. With two sprint opportunities and two stage wins, I think we performed well as a team. The first test with our new sprint setup was a success. In the UAE Tour, we will be competing at a higher level. It’s up to us to prove that we are ready for that challenge.”

The UAE Tour offers a varied course with plenty of opportunities for sprinters, as well as demanding mountain stages to Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet. On the second day, the riders will face a time trial of over twelve kilometers. The desert wind could also play a decisive role. Mørkøv sees this as a perfect test for his team. “We already saw great things from our sprint train in the Tour of Oman. Daniel has a lot of experience, while Olav has the talent and instinct to finish the job. Olav already trusts Daniel blindly, despite them not having raced together much yet. That’s a good sign. The level in the UAE Tour will undoubtedly be very high, with top sprinters at the start. We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against the best.”

For Kooij, who won a stage in the UAE Tour last year, the upcoming week is not just about victories but also about growing as a sprint team. “The two wins in Oman showed that we are in good shape,” says the 23-year-old sprinter. “It’s always great to start the season that way. In the UAE Tour, we hope to deliver again. A stage win would be fantastic, but it’s also about fine-tuning the connection within the sprint train. We need to be able to anticipate each other’s moves without too many words during the race. That already worked well in Oman. In the UAE, we hope to perfect it even further.”
 

With Kooij as the main sprinter and Gloag and Lemmen targeting the mountain stages, Team Visma | Lease a Bike heads to the UAE Tour with ambitions and a clear mission. Competing against the world’s best will be a valuable benchmark for the Dutch team. For Mørkøv, it is above all an opportunity to continue building. “The foundation has been laid. Now it’s about carrying that momentum forward.”