Fabio Jakobsen takes a temporary break from cycling - Dutchman diagnosed with Iliac artery issues
Cycling
Fabio Jakobsen has now taken his last win almost a year ago, and has been struggling through racing for quite a while now. Far from the top of the sprinter list nowadays, the Dutchman has been diagnosed with problems in the iliac arteries and is taking a break from cycling.
“I trained well this winter and came into the season with some confidence. We picked up some top ten results at UAE Tour and Paris-Nice, but when it came to those key moments and high intensity sprint efforts I suffered; my legs simply weren’t working as they should," Jakobsen said in a press release. He's been diagnosed with a health issue that affects some cyclists, will have surgery on the 2nd April and will be taking six weeks off the bike.
“It’s mentally of course a setback, but now that we have found the cause of the issue, I am hopeful that the surgery can then solve it. Sometimes you need to take one step back to be able to make two forward, and I hope that’s what I’m going to do now.”
Team doctor Camiel Aldershof has explained the ongoing problem: “Unfortunately after conducting recent tests, we have discovered that Fabio has flow limitation of the iliac arteries. As the diagnosis is very clear and currently limiting him on the bike, he will undergo surgery to attempt and fix the issue.”
The Team Picnic PostNL rider hence has no scheduled return to racing, and even a Tour de France presence seems unlikely in the most positive of scenarios as he only returns to the bike in mid-May. “Thankfully, he has a more favourable prognosis to return due to the type of limitation; however, this can take some time to come back from.”
The 28-year old will above all look to try and eliminate the issue, in order to in the long-term return to his best level. “The surgery means that Fabio will be off the bike for around six weeks initially, with no other strenuous physical activity allowed. In the meantime, we will monitor his progress and from there, when he is ready, we will gradually have him return to training and slowly build up intensity again.”
Hitting ⏸️
— Team Picnic PostNL (@picnicpostnl) March 31, 2025
After conducting recent tests, it was revealed that @FabioJakobsen has flow limitations in the iliac arteries (FLIA). Fabio will undergo surgery on Wednesday 2nd April, before a prolonged period of recovery ❤️🩹
Beterschap Fabio! 🫶🏻
🇬🇧🔗https://t.co/XmK2GpaIhj… pic.twitter.com/Antxk5h1Ny
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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