Nils Eekhoff victorious in ZLM Tour prologue
Team DSM rider takes first leader's jersey as Cavendish gets back in action in the Netherlands
Nils Eekhoff (Team DSM) powered to victory in the prologue of the ZLM Tour in Heinkenszand, defeating teammate Alex Edmondson last year's overall champion Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) by fractions of a second.
Eekhoff covered the 6.6 kilometre course with a time of 7:27.79, with Edmondson 0.36 seconds slower and Kooij just 0.05 seconds further behind in third.
It was the first professional victory for the 25-year-old.
"I'm really happy to take my first win here," Eekhoff said. "I went pretty deep and am super happy to win. Going out was a tailwind and superfast. Toward the finish, the headwind made it pretty tough but it worked out pretty well."
Team DSM stacked the top 10 with Sam Welsford in fifth and Patrick Eddy from the DSM development team in ninth.
Among the starters in the ProSeries five-day stage race is Mark Cavendish (Astana), who is back in action with lead-out man Cees Bol, who finished sixth on the stage.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
All the new WorldTour team kits for 2026 – UAE Team Emirates, SD Worx-Protime, NSN Cycling and more
Rounding up all the reveals and new designs so far -
Best budget cycling computers: Track your ride without the big price tag
Affordable GPS head units that help you track data, plan routes, track performance metrics and more -
'It was a snowball effect' – Oscar Onley's rapid transformation into an in-demand Tour de France contender
'Now I feel like I have a leg to stand on and I can put myself forward and say that I want to podium at a Grand Tour and ultimately win one in the coming years' -
The Specialized Sale has discounted this top-rated winter jacket by an incredible $135 – Treat the cyclist in your life to a luxurious layer this Christmas
The best cycling jackets don't come cheap, but with up to 60% off, the Specialized Prime-Series Alpha Jacket is a must-buy bargain



