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Fabio Jakobsen's disaster year: after Giro and Tour disappointment, there is reason for concern
CyclingThursday, 24 October 2024 at 08:35
Fabio Jakobsen's first year at dsm-firmenich PostNL did not exactly turn out to be a success. With only one win, the rewards of the sprint bomb are not quite what was expected. The grand tours ended in a painful reality check, and with the emerging sprint talent at the Dutch team, 2025 will be a crucial season for the former European champion.
After six seasons with The Wolfpack, the Dutchman closed the Belgian chapter: he left for a Dutch team. With his new employer, he would undoubtedly be the chosen leader for the sprints. With Tim Merlier, Soudal Quick-Step had a formidable contender for the top spot in the sprint rankings. Moreover, the focus on Remco Evenepoel was such that a starting position in the Tour de France for a sprinter was not realistic. "I'd like to go to the Tour and sprint, and I don't think that's going to work out in the next few years at Soudal-Quick Step," the former European champion was realistic about his departure.
At dsm-firmenich PostNL, a Tour starting position was almost guaranteed. Jakobsen would lead the sprints, and the team could guarantee him a superb lead-out. With the help of Nils Eekhoff, Bram Welten, and German veteran John Degenkolb, among others, the 2022 Tour stage winner had no lack of strong helpers for the final kilometers. These gentlemen should help him to win another Tour stage. Outside the Tour de France, he could enjoy domestiques like Emils Liepins, Pavel Bittner, and Tobias Lund Andresen. There was plenty of support.
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Jakobsen took his only win of the season at the Tour of Turkey.
"Becoming more of a cyclist" after Giro, corona during Tour: big goals fail
It all fell into place for the five-time Vuelta stage winner. A new team, a new boost, and massive confidence from the team. They laid out a detailed annual plan: the Hulk would ride fewer classics but focus more on the grand tours. Besides the big goal, the Tour de France, Jakobsen would start in the Giro d'Italia. However, the preparation was demanding: a victory failed to emerge long before the Tour of Turkey. There, he won his first race of the year (where teammate Lund Andresen won three times, by the way).
In the Turkish stage race, the sprinter showed his speed was all right. A week later, however, the Giro turned out to be a disappointment: not once did he get to sprint, and after eleven stages, he gave up. After the Tour of Italy, the conclusion was clear: "We have to go back to the drawing board, and maybe I should be a little more cyclist and a little less sprinter," Jakobsen said. That was necessary: the Dutchman often dropped out far too early. Even if he had the speed in his legs, competing in the last part of the race was usually unrealistic.
The Giro d'Italia may have been a big disappointment, but it was a learning experience. Looking ahead to the Tour, the sprint bomb had high hopes: with a strong team, he had every chance of winning stages. But it didn't work out in France either. Even though he finished in the top ten twice, a victory was too far away. This round also lasted less than two weeks: during stage twelve, Jakobsen had to drop out: the fear was a coronavirus infection. "I don't want to infect the guys. Of course, I have to go with them to the hotel, but I keep my distance and don't shake hands. I fear I have something in me."
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Hungry Bittner and Lund Andresen pose a challenge
After the Tour de France, the former Soudal Quick-Step rider continued a few races, but the season was over. The big goals were not achieved, and after two stages in the Tour of Guangxi, the year was over for Jakobsen. The measly harvest: one stage win in the Tour of Turkey. It will not please DSM-firmenich PostNL: They have invested much in giving their new leader as many chances as possible. But there is also new hope. The Dutch team has been focusing a lot on youth for years and is now harvesting the fruits of that.
As mentioned earlier, Jakobsen was the leader of the Tour of Turkey, but his lead-out, Lund Andresen, managed to win as many as three stages. The young Dane began an impressive win streak there: he was the team's overall winner with six wins. He started like his leader in the Giro d'Italia but could not continue his form there either. Later in the year, he recovered his form, something Jakobsen had failed to do. At 21 years old and two months younger than his Danish teammate, Bittner surprised everybody with a stage win in his grand tour debut at the Vuelta. In the fifth stage, the Czech dealt with green jersey wearer Wout van Aert.
So, the chosen leader can expect fierce competition from his team. His younger teammates may need help to match Jakobsen's speed, but they have more content and can get over hills much easier. In addition, they will only improve and become faster. Of course, the Dutchman is also only 27 years old, something people forget, especially when you see his impressive list of achievements. So it's not game over yet for Jakobsen, but there is reason for concern. Because something has to change, that much is certain. The speed is still there, and that much is inevitable, but if it does not succeed in "becoming more of a cyclist" next season, the Dutchman may be left at home for his oh-so-beloved Tour.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024