"Fabio is much too good a rider to stay in the Tour in this way" - Soudal - Quick-Step's Tom Steels reacts to the Tour de France departure of Fabio Jakobsen
Cycling
Fabio Jakobsen will not be at the start line on stage 12 of the 2023 Tour de France. The Soudal - Quick-Step has finally called it a day after suffering since a crash on stage 4.
Explaining the decision, Soudal - Quick-Step's sports director Tom Steels had some words. "We were unable to turn it around after the rest day. Yesterday he was able to follow, but he was unable to accelerate," he says of the stage 11 sprint where Jakobsen was only able to finish 16th, instead of competing for the victory like many would have expected pre-race.
"With the doctor you weigh and then weigh. Fabio is much too good a rider to stay in the Tour in this way. Reaching Paris is nice, but Fabio is here to win," Steels continues. "Physically it didn't work and then you have to be careful. He has used his character and you have to be careful not to completely empty yourself after the Tour."
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"It was just no longer feasible. You have to look at the rider and the person. In the Tour it is deadly if you encounter something. The best riders are here and it goes very fast," he concluded.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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You’re an amazing fighter, @FabioJakobsen! We can’t wait to see you back in action! #TDF2023 Photo: @BeelWout
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