Jakobsen back on the bike, more talents on the move: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers,
Tuesday came with some welcome news for a rider who has been through a very difficult past few months: Fabio Jakobsen is back on the bike, three and a half months after the crash at the Tour of Poland that left him seriously injured.
Tuesdy was also a busy day on the contracts front, with several riders on the move. Miguel Ángel López, who has spent the past six seasons with Astana, is one of them. So too is Alison Jackson, who rode with Sunweb this year.
Read on for more …
Dane Cash
News Editor
What’s News
| Fabio Jakobsen is back on his bike
After months of recovery following the crash at the Tour of Poland that left him seriously injured, Fabio Jakobsen is back to riding his bike.
The 24-year-old Dutchman posted a photo on social media on Tuesday of himself and his partner Delores Tougje out for a ride.
Back on the bike together with @delorestougje on our new @iamspecialized Tarmac SL7. It has been quite a journey so far. With this post I would like to thank all the medical specialists that have helped me a long the way. pic.twitter.com/N34S9cf933
— Fabio Jakobsen (@FabioJakobsen) November 24, 2020
Same goes for @deceuninck_qst and all the sponsors of my team for the support in my rehabilitation process. Already looking forward to my next surgery in January. In the meantime I will slowly start training again.
— Fabio Jakobsen (@FabioJakobsen) November 24, 2020
| López signs with Movistar
Miguel Ángel López is headed to Movistar next season. The 26-year-old Colombian has spent the past six years with the Astana organization, during which time he has racked up six Grand Tour top 10s, including podium finishes at the Vuelta a España and the Giro d’Italia, stage wins at the Vuelta and the Tour de France, and overall titles at the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Suisse.
“I’m so happy to be part of one of the most important teams in the world of cycling,” López said. “As I’ve always done, I’ll try to achieve my fullest potential to represent the Movistar Team and the people of Colombia in the best possible way. This has always been a very significant team for my home fans and a crucial factor for the growth of the sport in Latin America, so I’m excited to join them next year.”
| Jackson headed to Liv for 2021
CCC-Liv, which will race as Liv Racing in 2021, announced on Tuesday that it had completed its roster for next year with the signing of Alison Jackson, who spent this season with Sunweb.
The 31-year-old Canadian is a versatile talent who rode to runner-up honors at the Tour of Guangxi and the Tour of Scotland last year, with other top 10s at the Tour Down Under, the Herald Sun Tour, and the Amstel Gold Race and a win in the White Spot Delta Road Race.
| Clarke, Claeys, and Frankiny will ride for Qhubeka-Assos next year
With its sponsorship situation secured for next year, the NTT team that will become Qhubeka-Assos continues to announce new signings. On Tuesday, the squad announced that Simon Clarke, Dimitri Claeys, and Killian Frankiny are coming aboard for 2021.
Clarke makes the transfer after five seasons with the EF organization. The 34-year-old Australian counts two Vuelta a España stage wins and a Vuelta mountains classification title on his career palmares and his new team will look to him as both a road captain and a contender for the hillier races. Claeys has spent the past four seasons with Cofidis and will be a part of his new team’s Classics core, having ridden to sixth at this year’s Tour of Flanders. Frankiny, an all-rounder who will play a role in the stage races for Qhubeka-Assos, has spent the past two seasons with Groupama-FDJ.
| Barta signs with EF
Will Barta is headed to EF next season, the squad announced on Tuesday. The 24-year-old American has spent the past two seasons with the CCC team and is coming off a 2020 campaign that saw him come oh-so-close to nabbing his first pro win in a stage at the Vuelta a España. Barta missed out on winning the stage 13 time trial by one second to eventual overall winner Primoz Roglic.
Even if it wasn’t a win, the strong showing came at a key time for Barta, who was without a contract for next year. Three weeks since his runner-up ride, Barta has secured a spot on a WorldTour squad for 2021.
| Kuss eyes more opportunities in 2021
On the heels of another strong season mostly riding in support of his Jumbo-Visma teammates, Sepp Kuss says he’s hoping to get a few more opportunities to ride for his own results next season.
“I would love to target races like Volta Catalunya, Itzulia, and La Vuelta, but we will see what the plans are for 2021,” the 26-year-old American told CiclismoInternacional in a recent interview. “Either way, I want to see what’s possible in more climbing stage races next year. I am happy to give 100% to the team in races like the Tour, but I also hope I will have my chances in other races.”
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