Cyclingflash
Cees Bol makes instant impression for Decathlon CMA CGM at UAE Tour

Cees Bol makes instant impression for Decathlon CMA CGM at UAE Tour

Cees Bol almost had a dream start riding for his new team Decathlon CMA CGM. For a brief moment, it seemed that the strong Dutchman Isaac Del Toro could still be caught in the opening stage of the UAE Tour, but Bol ultimately had to settle for second place. However, there was no sign of disappointment afterward.

He came up very strong in the final steepening meters, but Cees Bol was still unable to overtake the Mexican top talent Del Toro in Liwa Palace. The 30-year-old North Hollander just missed bringing a victory to his new team, but he got off to an excellent start out of the French blocks.

"The finish of this first stage was very tough," Bol said afterward via his team’s social media channels. "My teammates positioned me perfectly and protected me excellently all day. This allowed me to save my legs for the final kilometers."

"In the final sprint, I found my way forward and almost caught Isaac Del Toro. I’m very happy to start the season like this, in good shape. We worked well together today, although it’s always painful to miss out on the win when you were so close."

Bol, who will sprint for himself in the UAE Tour following the absence of his compatriot and lead sprinter Olav Kooij, looks at the coming days with optimism. "The week has started well and we are very motivated for the upcoming stages."