'If I have the legs and space I probably win' - Fabio Jakobsen confident in sprint success despite team switch

Updated 04/03/2024 at 16:44 GMT

Sprinter Fabio Jakobsen made a big move in the off-season as he ended his six-year stay with Soudal-QuickStep to join dsm-firmenich PostNL. Jakobsen, 27, has told Eurosport that he believes he has the "physical capabilities" to be competing for wins and doesn't think "many guys" can beat him. He has also spoken about adapting to his new team and how he chose his move.

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Fabio Jakobsen is confident there are “not many guys” who can beat him in a sprint as he starts out life with new team dsm-firmenich PostNL.

The 27-year-old joined the Dutch team at the end of 2024 after ending a six-year spell with Soudal-QuickStep.

He made his debut for dsm-firmenich PostNL in the Middle East in February and this week is looking for his first win in his new colours at Paris-Nice.

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Although moving to a fresh outfit means plenty of change, Jakobsen has told Eurosport's Cycling Show that he is confident in his abilities when the finish line is in sight.

“If I get to the sprint fresh I have the power and speed that not many guys can pass,” he said.

“If I have the legs and the space I probably win, but there are also other sprinters that if they get a slip stream or jump a bit early I can be beaten if I am boxed in or not fresh enough in the final.

“Every sprinter has his own characteristics…I know I have physical capabilities to be up there and do a good sprint and I know there’s not many guys passing me.”

Jakobsen joined Soudal-QuickStep in 2018 and recovered from a serious crash in the summer of 2020 that left him in an induced coma to contend again for race wins.

He says that joining a new team has been “refreshing” and believes his team-mates can create the right leadout train for him to be successful.

“It’s a new start, a new process, the guys are eager to learn and we have a special sprint group we are focused on," he said.

"[Coach] Rod Curvers is the man in charge, he comes from a successful train. John Degenkolb is here who was also in that same train for Marcel Kittel, so I think there is enough experience here to create a leadout like that hopefully.”

Asked what the leadout men need to do for him to have success, he added: “They have to take care of their sprinter.

“If they have to ride in the wind to protect the sprinter or do something in favour of the sprint they always have to do it. It sounds logical but it’s all about putting a sprinter in a winning position.

“They don’t need to do a perfect 400 to 200 acceleration, if they can bring me in the first three with 500 to go I’m already a happy man. Everything they can do extra from there is a bonus.”

As for the decision to leave Soudal-QuickStep, Jakobsen said there was "no spot for me anymore".

There were several options following his departure but dsm-firmenich PostNL was the “best choice” for him.

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“I had to look around and find a new even better option with a team that fully focuses on stage wins with a sprinter. Then I ended up talking to DSM quite early. There were more interested teams but you have to make a choice and if I look beforehand, this was the best choice.

“Being supported fully and committed in sprint races, obviously good material, good staff, good performance team. DSM ticked all these boxes and gave a good feeling. If you put all the positives and negatives together you have to make a choice and this was the choice.

“I hope to have at least five or six good years in my career so money is for not a top priority. As an athlete you want to perform so I look at the sporting ambition and surrounding and those were the main markers to go for this team, but in terms of money-wise if you are a good sprinter it’s everywhere a good fair amount so I am not going to complain about that.

“I get paid quite well to ride a bike and I enjoy it, so it was a not decisive point for me, but you do take it into account when you make a decision.”