Tour de France 2023: Fabio Jakobsen withdraws ahead of Stage 12, says 'body not healing' after Stage 4 crash

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 13/07/2023 at 09:06 GMT

It is a sad end to the Tour de France for Fabio Jakobsen, who has decided to withdraw from the race ahead of Stage 12. Jakobsen crashed heavily at the conclusion to Stage 4 in Nogaro, and has eventually succumbed to the injuries he suffered. Jakobsen has seen rival sprinter Jasper Philipsen take four victories so far on the Tour, as the Dutchman has been unable to challenge.

Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal Quick-Step) has withdrawn from the Tour de France after failing to recover from injuries he sustained in a crash on Stage 4.

Jakobsen went down heavily on the motor-racing circuit in Nogaro, and though he has battled on since, the Dutchman has now made the decision to retire from the race.

In a statement issued by Soudal Quick-Step, Jakobsen said: "Due to my stage four crash, and after discussions with the team, we decided it’s better for me to stop my Tour de France journey here.

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"At this point it seems impossible for me to get to Paris, as I am not recovering, and my body is not healing from the crash.

"I’m very sad to leave the Grande Boucle, because I had big goals for this race and wanted to be at my best with the team.

"I will now take some time to recover and clear my head, and hopefully be back at my best later this season."

'This is crazy!' - Finish to Stage 4 marred by crashes as Philipsen wins again

Jakobsen, 26, had come into this year's Tour hoping to add to his one stage victory from last year's race.

However, he has not been able to challenge standout sprinter Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck), who has emerged victorious in four stages so far in this year's event.

Jakobsen is expected to depart his current team at the end of this season, having revealed the news to NOS earlier in the Tour.

"I talked to Patrick on the Tour in the bus," Jakobsen said after Stage 9.

"At the end of the conversation, we had a hug. But unfortunately, I can't stay – I have to look for another team.

"[The search] is ongoing and it looks good. I've been a family member of the team for six years. Soudal-QuickStep is in my heart and so is Patrick.

"I want to finish the job here and on August 1 it will be known."

Jakobsen's exit from the Tour leaves Soudal Quick-Step with the following remaining riders:

• Julian Alaphilippe
• Kasper Asgreen
• Yves Lampaert
• Remi Cavagna
• Tim Declercq
• Michael Morkov
• Dries Devenyns.

Thursday's Stage 12 sees the Tour head from Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais on a hilly parcours.

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