Olav Kooij sprints to first Tour de France stage win in Pau, easing pressure on Decathlon-CMA CGM
Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij won the fifth stage of the Tour de France in Pau on Wednesday, his first career stage victory at La Grande Boucle, giving his Decathlon-CMA CGM team a morale boost after a tense opening week.
Kooij times his sprint perfectly
Olav Kooij delivered a textbook sprint on the finish straight in Pau to win the fifth stage of the 2026 Tour de France. The Dutchman, riding for Decathlon-CMA CGM, positioned himself perfectly and held off a late charge from Belgian Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin. It was the 24-year-old's first career stage win at La Grande Boucle, leaving Philipsen with a frustrating second place.
I didn't know when I would ride as a cyclist again.
A weight lifted for the team
The victory could not have come at a better moment for the French team. After a tense opening week, Kooij's win relieved the pressure inside the team bus. Young French rider Paul Seixas, who has been the team's main focus, lost a few seconds in Pau but conceded none to the other general classification contenders. Team-mate Aurélien Paret-Peintre crossed the line with minor scrapes after being caught in a collective crash 5.5 kilometres from the finish. The day was still considered a triumph for the team, with Kooij's success providing a significant morale boost.
A turbulent path to the Tour
Kooij's presence on the start list was far from certain. He joined Decathlon-CMA CGM from Visma Lease a Bike during the winter, but a virus contracted at a team training camp in Spain set him back. The rapid emergence of Paul Seixas then reshuffled the team's priorities, and Kooij was only reintegrated into the Tour squad at the last moment. Wednesday's win validated that late decision and underlined the depth of a team that entered the race with multiple cards to play.
- Transfers to Decathlon-CMA CGM and contracts a virus at a training camp in Spain
- Paul Seixas emerges, reshaping team plans and priorities
- Reintegrated into Tour de France squad at the last moment
- Wins stage 5 in Pau, his first career Tour de France stage victory
Broader impact
The result had wider implications in the sprint hierarchy, with Jasper Philipsen forced to settle for second after a well-executed lead-out by Kooij's teammates. Jonas Vingegaard, the rider cited as "contrarié" by Le Figaro, endured a difficult outing that may have implications for the overall battle. For Decathlon-CMA CGM, the stage win also eased the pressure on team leadership, who had banked on a strong showing in the first week.
