"It's a bit of a shame to come out of the Tour well and not have an Olympics ahead" - Jakob Fuglsang disappointed to miss out on Danish selection for Paris 2024

There aren't many more experienced figures in the peloton currently than Israel - Premier Tech's 39-year-old Dane, Jakob Fuglsang. After recently completing the 18th Grand Tour of his career at the 2024 Tour de France, Fuglsang had hoped for a final crack at the Olympic Games but that was not to be.

"It's a bit of a shame to come out of the Tour well and not have an Olympics ahead of you," the two time Criterium du Dauphine winner and silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games behind Belgium's Greg van Avermaet, tells Ekstra Bladet. "But I'm not the only one. Magnus Cort Nielsen has also ridden super strong and beautifully, and he is not part of it either - there is no one who finished the Tour who is going. It is a bit of a shame about the selection time. But that's how it is."

With the aforementioned Fuglsang and Magnus Cort Nielsen missing from the Danish lineup for the men's road race in Paris as is Jonas Vingegaard notably, a four man team of Mikkel Bjerg, Mattias Skjelmose, Michael Morkov and big gold medal hopeful, Mads Pedersen is expected to take up the task.

For Fuglsang it will now be a time to rest up for goals later in the year after, as mentioned, completing the 18th Grand Tour of his lengthy career. Notably, it was also the 12th Tour de France for Fuglsang, a Danish record. "I have noted it. But having said that, it's not something that takes up much space. For myself, it confirms that, firstly, I have had a long career, but also that I have maintained a high level. After all, it takes a little more to join the Tour," concludes Fuglsang, who finished 7th overall at the 2013 Tour de France. "But in order to reach the big record, I'm a little short. Sylvain Chavanel has raced 19 and I can't beat that. I won't last that long. I can promise that."