Olav Kooij Wins Opening Stage at 2025 Tour of Britain

Dutch rider Olav Kooij of Team Visma-Lease a Bike won the opening stage of the 2025 Tour of Britain with a dramatic sprint finish in Southwold, narrowly beating Norway's Tord Gudmestad from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. This victory marks Kooij's fifth career stage win at the Tour since his 2023 debut and puts him in the leader's jersey. The 161-167 km stage, starting in Woodbridge, featured a breakaway early on but ended in a controlled bunch sprint with Kooij delivered perfectly by teammate Matthew Brennan. Hugo Hofstetter of Israel-Premier Tech took third place, while British rider Sam Watson was the first local finisher in sixth. The race also marks the final professional event for Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas, who overcame a puncture to finish with the main field. The Tour continues with the second stage in Stowmarket and the final stage ending in Thomas' hometown of Cardiff.