"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

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."

"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.