Dutch rider Olav Kooij of Decathlon CMA CGM claimed his maiden victory in the 2026 Tour de France after topping the final sprint of the fifth stage from Lannemezan to Pau on Wednesday.
"Winning this is truly incredible. I had to overcome several difficult stages and wait for my first opportunity to sprint in the Tour de France. This victory means a lot," Kooij said, as quoted on the Tour de France website.
Kooij dominated the mass finish, beating Max Kanter (XDS Astana) in second and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) in third. Meanwhile, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), the 2024 sprint winner in Pau, finished fifth.
The 24-year-old racer said his success was due to his struggle to maintain his confidence after going through a difficult period at the start of the season.
"I'm happy to be back at this level after a pretty tough spring, when I had to keep believing in myself through a lot of obstacles," Kooij said.
The victory in Pau was a significant achievement for Decathlon CMA CGM, marking the team's 23rd victory in Tour de France history. It was also the French team's first sprint victory since 2004.
The fifth stage is an opportunity for the sprinters after the opening stages of the Tour de France.
