Jakobsen on the project at dsm-firmenich PostNL: "I came from a well-oiled machine; now we have to create a machine."

A tough guy, a go-getter, and a powerhouse. Of course, it goes without saying, but Fabio Jakobsen embodies all these qualities. The Dutchman has been riding for dsm-firmenich PostNL since this year, but so far, he has not managed to secure a victory for the team. Yet, it seems that a win is just a matter of a tiny bit more patience. In a particularly challenging edition of Nokere Koerse, the always amiable sprinter showed with his second-place finish that things are actually going well and there’s no need for panic.

Let’s start from the beginning. In the late morning (or was it already noon?) of Wednesday, March 13, Jakobsen made time for a chat with the press after the team presentation in the market square of Deinze. IDLProCycling.com was curious about how the still stagnant victory count was affecting Jakobsen, who had dropped out during the fifth stage of Paris-Nice. "I’m doing well. I’ve recovered from Paris-Nice. Our team was dealing with a stomach and intestinal virus (only Gijs Leemreize finished the Race to the Sun, ed.). Many guys were vomiting or had diarrhea. And then, Paris-Nice is really not the race to recover. So, it wasn’t wise to continue."

"The past week I was able to train well, and the training sessions went well," he continues. "We’re ready to give it our all again. For me, a top-three finish is never the goal. The only thing that counts is winning. That’s why I cycle, and that’s what I keep fighting for. Do I have an explanation for it? Well, yes. A new season with a new team and new guys is always an adjustment. Things haven’t completely fallen into place yet. I obviously came from a well-oiled machine (the sprint train at Soudal Quick-Step, ed.) and now we need to create a machine. And obviously, that’s not something you achieve in a few weeks."

When we then ask the Hulk of Heukelum if there's a lot of pressure associated with this process, he responds smartly. "It’s all perfectly explainable. If I suddenly couldn’t win anymore, while everything else was running perfectly, then it would be a different story. But now, there are just components that need work. I believe that I can also improve physically. I’m not going to detail everything here, because those would be excuses. We want and need to do better. And certainly, to win, it has to be much better," he ambitiously states.

A new season, a new team, and therefore new teammates, that's how the 27-year-old sprinting sensation describes it. But how is he finding his new environment? And how would Jakobsen describe the atmosphere and culture within the team? "Lots of young guys, all eager to give their all. They are all very motivated and brimming with morale. In that respect, I definitely feel like I'm in the rightspot. So, I’m certainly happy with the choice I made. I’m really enjoying myself."

After the start interviews, Jakobsen headed back to the team bus, readying himself for 188 kilometers of racing in East Flanders. "I’m expecting a tough race and not necessarily a sprint from a large group," he predicted in Deinze. But that group sprint did happen. After an incredibly tough race - with riders like Tim Wellens and Stefan Küng trying to throw a spanner in the sprinters’ plans - Tim Merlier was by far the fastest. However, Jakobsen was also there, right on cue in the uphill sprint (on the Nokereberg). Finishing behind him were riders like Jasper Philipsen and Pascal Ackermann.

His runner-up finish meant we could have another conversation with the cheerful cyclist. This second place on the Nokereberg stands as his best season result so far (before that, it was a fourth place in the UAE Tour), and the victory seems to be getting closer for Jakobsen. "Things are getting better and better. I missed the start of the season a bit, but I feel that I’m catching up. Second is the first loser, but it’s nice to be on the podium and getting closer. My feeling is improving, so we remain hopeful and positive," he already mentioned in the flash interview, before elaborating further with IDLProCycling.com. "I shouldn’t be dissatisfied when you're on the podium for the first time again. But on the other hand, I obviously prefer to win, although the gap to Tim was quite big," he says with a smile. "He did it perfectly. I think he had the best legs."

It was very hectic, not just in the finale, but also in the hours of racing leading up to it. "That's Nokere Koerse for you," explains Jakobsen, who won the 1.Pro race in 2018 (which was somewhat regarded as his breakthrough). "As a team, we raced well, especially with Nils (Eekhoff, ed.) and Pavel (Bittner, ed.). They were incredibly strong and basically carried the final lap by countering attacks. So, as a team, we definitely did well. Second place is great, but of course, I would have preferred to win for them and the team. But this was the best we could achieve."

"Still, it shows that we're on the right track. If you can finish second, you're close to winning," Jakobsen emphasizes. "That's very good for morale and confidence. I really enjoy this race anyway. It’s a semi-classic that truly counts. I like coming here, I have fond memories of it, and it holds a special place in my heart, especially because I achieved my first professional victory here."

Lastly, while many expected Jakobsen to be at the start of the Bredene Koksijde Classic on Friday, March 15, he is skipping that race. He will be competing again in the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday, March 20, where he is now considered one of the absolute top favorites in such a sprint race (normally). "I might have to step in for the Bredene Koksijde Classic, but for now, it’s not on my schedule. I’ll recover well from Nokere Koerse, train for a few days, and then head to De Panne. Afterward, I’ll build up through the Tour of Turkey towards the Giro d'Italia. I’m also riding the Tour de France. That’s why I’m not doing a lot of classics. You don’t want to be burned out after the spring. It's a deliberate choice, but still an adjustment. Naturally, you want to be in top form everywhere and win, but that simply isn’t possible. No one can do that."