"I had the legs, but I was just too far" - Poor positioning does for Fabio Jakobsen in first bunch sprint of the 2023 Tour de France
Cycling
Finishing fourth, it wasn't the ideal first bunch sprint finish of the 2023 Tour de France for Soudal - Quick-Step's sprinter, Fabio Jakobsen. Nevertheless, there were positive signs for the Dutchman and that's what he's focusing on.
“It’s a pity, as I had the legs, but I was just too far and not in a winning position," the 26-year-old recaps to the official website of the Soudal - Quick-Step team. "I got boxed in a bit on a small uphill and there I lost Michael Morkov’s wheel, so next time I have to fight more for that. He waited for me, but then we got boxed in again and I found myself stuck. We both had the legs, but Michael had nowhere to go out. I tried to find my way, but in the end, I concluded in fourth."
The sprint was eventually won by Alpecin-Deceuninck's quick man, Jasper Philipsen. Following the disappointment, Jakobsen had a critical word for race organisers over the layout over the final few kilometres that included roundabouts and late corners.
"The finish was a bit tricky, it could have been on a straight line instead," he declares. "Anyway, we saw a strong team, which is good, and this is very important for the next days.”
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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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🎙️ “It’s a pity, as I had the legs. But at the end of this #TDF2023 stage I was just too far, not in a winning position. I got boxed away a bit on a small uphill and there I lost Michael’s wheel, so next time I have to fight more for that.”
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