“It’s great to be back” – Fabio Jakobsen happy to put nightmare 2025 behind him at the Tour of Denmark

Fabio Jakobsen has marked his return to competition at the Tour of Denmark, finishing 112th on the first stage, which was won by Mads Pedersen. Despite the low placing, the former top sprinter is approaching his comeback with determination. This is his first race since the Classic Brugge-De Panne in March, following a lengthy break due to major surgery on his femoral artery. In early April, Jakobsen underwent a procedure to correct a pinched femoral artery in both legs, a problem that had been affecting his performance.

The recovery timeline meant he was forced to miss both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, a significant blow to his season. Speaking in June, he admitted, “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.”

Now back in the peloton, Jakobsen is relishing the chance to race again. “It's great to be back racing. I was in the last group, but quite comfortably. I'm happy to be back,” he told NOS. The Dutch rider explained that the training block leading up to Denmark has already yielded encouraging signs.

“But after five weeks of training, I already feel better than I did last winter after three months of preparation. I'm still lacking some fitness, but my legs are working well. On the climbs, my legs keep working, and I'm processing the acidification faster and more easily than before. I just need to regain race toughness and racing rhythm. That won't happen automatically. You have to dedicate the days to it.”

Jakobsen is not content to simply ride his way into form at the back of the bunch. His goals extend beyond logging race kilometres. “I'm going all out; I'm not just racing to fill out the peloton. Of course, this is about getting back into shape, but that goes hand in hand with a sprint opportunity. You have to be in the mix anyway, so it's better to be at the front in a sprint stage.”