Jakobsen takes his first win since the crash at last year’s Tour of Poland
Jakobsen takes his first win since the crash at last year's Tour of Poland
Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) sprinted to victory on stage 2 of the Tour de Wallonie on Wednesday, taking his first win since the scary crash at the Tour of Poland that left him seriously injured nearly one year ago.
The 24-year-old Dutchman bested Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) and Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-Samsic) at the end of a 120 km stage that started and finished in Zolder. Jakobsen’s win comes just one day after Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) took the opening stage of the Tour de Wallonie in what was Groenewegen’s own first victory since coming back from a suspension that he was given after driving Jakobsen into the barriers on the opening stage of the Tour of Poland.
Following the crash, Jakobsen spent time in a medically-induced coma. The incident also left him with numerous broken bones in his face. Groenewegen was initially disqualified from the Tour of Poland, with the stage 1 victory awarded to Jakobsen, and then the UCI suspended Groenewegen for nine months.
Jakobsen underwent multiple surgeries in the aftermath of the crash. He returned to racing this April at the Tour of Turkey.
“I think it means the end of my re-validation,” Jakobsen said after his win on Wednesday. “I guess I can say I’m back. I look forward to winning more stages. For today, cheers.”
Groenewegen yesterday and now Jakobsen today. The two men involved in the harrowing crash at the Tour of Poland are now back winning. #EthiasTourdeWallonie2021 pic.twitter.com/eWzVtmkRaO
— CyclingTips (@cyclingtips) July 21, 2021
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