Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen, European champion, will not continue at Soudal-QuickStep next season and he will try to return to the Tour de France in 2024 with another jersey, possibly that of DSM-Firmenich.
The Dutch sprinter, born in Gorinchem 26 years ago, winner of 5 stages in the Vuelta and 1 in the Tour, joined the Belgian team 6 years ago, and will not be wearing the current jersey in the “Grande boucle” of 2024, season in which the great star of the team, the world champion Remco Evenepoel, could debut in France.
Jakobsen commented on the NOS chain that, after speaking with the team’s skipper, Patrick Lefevere, his decision to switch teams once professional cycling’s transfer window opens on August 1.
“I spoke to Patrick on the Tour on the bus. At the end of the conversation, we hugged. But unfortunately, I can’t stayI have to find another team,” Jakobsen said.
The European champion suffered a hard fall in the fourth stage that has weighed down until the rest day, but he hopes to have more opportunities before Paris.
Another sprinter on the team, Tim Merlier, has a contract until the end of 2025 and he could be the only sprinter in the squad and focus on winning stages in the Giro or the Vuelta.
“Tim Merlier is here for three years, so if I stay another two years, I would have to share with Remco and another top sprinter. I want to go to the Tour and run, which will not happen in the next few years in Soudal-QuickStep ”, Jakobsen settled.