“It does hurt” - Fabio Jakobsen ruled out of Tour de France and Vuelta as nightmare season continues
Cycling
Fabio Jakobsen's 2025 campaign has gone from bad to worse.
The Team Picnic PostNL sprinter has not raced since March and remains winless
for over 14 months, with his last victory dating back to April 2024. Hopes of a
summer revival have now been dashed, as the Dutchman has been ruled out of both
the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
Jakobsen underwent surgery in early April to correct a
pinched femoral artery in both legs, a procedure that has significantly
disrupted his preparations for the summer. While the operation was deemed a
success, the recovery process has proven too lengthy for the 28-year-old to be
ready for a Grand Tour this summer.
“Fabio has had a successful operation and he is recovering
well so far. After the necessary rest period, he was able to start with short
indoor sessions at low intensity, and we have gradually built that up. In the
past period he was able to ride outside again occasionally, which is positive,
but not yet at the level required for a three-week Grand Tour,” explained team
doctor Camiel Aldershof.
Jakobsen himself admitted that the writing had been on the
wall, even if he was hoping for a late turnaround. “It's a shame, because you
dream of the Tour. I partly saw it coming, but today it was dealt a blow. I
think it's the most sensible choice with a view to the future, but it does hurt
a little bit.”
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He also confirmed to NOS that the Vuelta is off the table.
“I dreamed of the Vuelta, but I was advised against it. After that, you still
have the Tour of the Netherlands and the Tour of Guangxi in China. I want to
compete for the win again in September or October, and in August I hope to ride
some competitive kilometers.”
Jakobsen remains optimistic, however, that his fortunes will
improve later in the year. “The worst is now behind us and everything is going
in a straight line upwards.”
The news is another blow for Picnic PostNL, who will also be
without John Degenkolb at the Tour. Degenkolb crashed heavily at the Tour of
Flanders in early April, breaking his collarbone, elbow, and wrist. According
to Aldershof, the German will undergo another operation to remove the fasteners
used in his initial recovery, ruling out a July return.
“A follow-up operation is planned to remove the fasteners
that speed up his recovery. As a result, he is not ready for a comeback in
early July. After that, we will slowly build it up with indoor training, and
only later with outdoor rides and training intensity,” Aldershof said.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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