"I’m already reaping the benefits of the expertise at Visma" - Fabio Jakobsen aims to win again in 2026
Cycling
Fabio Jakobsen was 15th at the recent Sparkassen Münsterland Giro, his first road race since joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike earlier in August. The Dutchman wants to regain his best level and reveals that he still wants to be part of the World Tour for many years to come.
After two and a half seasons of collaboration, Jakobsen and Team Picnic PostNL parted ways in August for the Dutch rider to move towards Team Visma | Lease a Bike. His last victory came at the 2024 Tour of Turkey, and it was his only triumph in the colours of Picnic.
He joined Visma in August and began training differently, towards a renewed return to racing. That happened this past Saturday in the German race.
"Pretty satisfied, though I have a bit of muscle soreness in my legs," Jakobsen said on NOS' Wielerpodcast. "But I’m highly motivated to keep working hard in the coming period. I think it was good, but not amazing. In elite sports, you always want more, I suppose, but I’m really keen to build on this."
Matthew Brennan racing in aid of Jakobsen
The put deposited a lot of confidence in Jakobsen, having none other than five-time Vuelta stage winner Matthew Brennan be part of the supporting crew. The goal was to give Jakobsen that confidence boost.
"That’s cool, of course, though it takes a bit of getting used to. I don't know the guys as well as they know each other, obviously, but I considered it a real honor that they chose me to contest the sprint."
"He really wanted to help me. If you watched the finale, you could see him looking for me. I was positioned a bit too far back, and I have to be honest. I was already really pleased just to have made it through the hilly section well. It used to be different in the past, I’d often find myself playing catch-up."
Fabio Jakobsen wants to win during the 2026 season
Changes in training at Visma
Whilst the result is not overly flashy, he finished just ahead of Tim Merlier, displaying how difficult the sprint was in terms of fighting for position. The 30-year old was happy with the performance and reveals the changes that he is overgoing now in a different team.
"Every team is different. In short, it’s a bit more about endurance, a bit more about being a complete cyclist, and slightly less focus on the sprint itself. It’s about working on my weaknesses first so I can ultimately utilize my greatest weapon, rather than just being the sprinter who has to sprint."
Over his career, Jakobsen has been a pure sprinter. As the speeds in the peloton intensify and the courses become more hilly, it has ultimately made it more difficult for him to perform at the front. He argues that he might increase his training load further.
"But it needs to get even better, that’s for sure. Perhaps even more extreme, but that’s up to the performance team at Visma to devise a tailored plan for. My sprint feels fresh, and the wattage and top speeds in training are measurable, but training isn't racing".
He gives an example of how, on that final sprint, he didn't yet have the legs that he desired. "In the final kilometer, I went through the last corner alongside Cees Bol; he moved up to Olav Kooij and hitched a ride with him. I didn't have that extra reserve."
But how will his training change beyond its current phase? "You’d have to ask Mathieu Heijboer (Visma coach, ed.) for the specific details".
"I think I’m built differently as a rider—and everyone is unique—but given my history, the time I was out of action, and the surgery, you have to approach it a bit differently. I have my own input, too, and adjustments are made based on that."
Jakobsen ultimately wants to return to his best level, that which has seen him win stages at the Tour de France and European Championships in the past.
"I certainly hope to remain active in the WorldTour for another five years or so. The priority now is to take a step in the right direction. We’ve seen cycling getting faster in recent years, everyone can ride harder for longer. In sprints, you see a lot of guys who are also Classics riders, and I want to develop in that direction as well."
Jakobsen feeling closer to a good level
"I’m already reaping the benefits of the expertise at Visma regarding how to perform in the spring Classics and in Grand Tours—whether as a sprinter or a Classics specialist. We’ve only been working together for two and a half months, so I’m really looking forward to being part of the team in China and taking another step forward there as we head into the winter".
The Tour of Guangxi, which begins next week in China, might be Jakobsen's biggest test. It will be a stage-race known for its large amount of bunch sprints and calm pelotons, ideal for a rider like him to take a win in what is expected to be a modest startlist.
Then in the winter, he will stay in Spain so as to train properly towards the 2027 season. "To get those training blocks and days in without weather-related setbacks, and to do some climbing as well. That will always remain my weakest link, and I need to limit that. Especially if I want to contest sprints more often, that aspect needs to improve, so that’s something I’ll be working on again".
"Above all, I’m really looking forward to it. A 15th-place finish might not mean much to many people, but the last time I won was over two and a half years ago at the Tour of Turkey. My last truly good sprints were in the 2024 Tour. There hasn't been much since then, until now," he concluded.
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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