Fabio Jakobsen puts focus on Grand Tours and away from spring classics: "I'm just not really a classics rider"

Fabio Jakobsen turned pro with Soudal - Quick-Step and, because of his abilities as a sprinter, the team tried to use him as a weapon for some of the spring classics. Whilst at times he showed his potential, the Dutch rider now steps away from them as he never adapted to the rougher ones.

"The program is the most important thing. Niki Terpstra has always given me the advice: if you make the best choice in sport, then you are both the happiest, and in the end, it is always financially right," Jakobsen shares in words with In de Leiderstrui. "The Giro and Tour, that's where my qualities lie. I'm just not really a classics rider; otherwise, I would have been in that group. I can win Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, but Gent-Wevelgem and Milano-Sanremo are already much more difficult. Then you have to make choices."

And the choice is clear: No cobbles this spring. Jakobsen will make his season debut at the Tour of Oman and then make the trip to the UAE Tour, both races with pan-flat stages. Then comes Paris-Nice. The Tour of Turkey, Giro d'Italia, Baloise Belgium Tour and Tour de France are also on his plan for the season, as he clearly puts focus on the stage-races to hunt much needed wins for the Dutch team. One-day races he features only two on his schedule, which are made for the fast men - Bredene-Koksijde Classic and the World Tour level Classic Brugge-De Panne.

"If you want to do the spring, you can't go straight to the Giro. The build-up to Giro and Tour should be possible, and that's what we are going to try," he assures. "And then we have to skip the spring, in part. I ride Oman, UAE Tour, Paris-Nice, Bredene-Koksijde, Brugge-De Panne, the Tour of Turkey before the Giro and working towards the Tour from Baloise Belgium Tour."