Picnic PostNL explains why Fabio Jakobsen abandoned in Denmark just two days into comeback

Jakobsen was scheduled to start Friday’s stage 3 time trial at 15:32, but never left the start ramp. In fact, his name was already missing from the team’s published start list for the day. The 28-year-old underwent surgery on two iliac arteries earlier this year, meaning he came into the Danish race still short of peak form.

In the opening stage on Danish soil, Jakobsen managed to finish after a tough day. “It’s nice to be back racing. I was in the last group, but actually felt pretty comfortable. I’m happy to be part of the bunch again,” he said afterward. In stage 2, which ended in a bunch sprint, the fast man didn’t have the legs to contest the finish, so Picnic PostNL switched to Nils Eekhoff for the win.

Fabio Jakobsen wasn’t the only rider to record a Did Not Start (DNS) for the stage 3 time trial. Oscar Bluhm (Give Steel–2M Cycling Elite) and Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) also opted out. Cort is still dealing with illness picked up during the Tour de France, although he did manage to finish that grand tour.

Jakobsen, meanwhile, reportedly didn’t even bring his time trial bike to Denmark. The aero position required for a TT setup is still not possible for the recently operated rider. He had planned to ride the time trial on a regular road bike, but it never came to that. A Picnic PostNL spokesperson told this website there was nothing more to read into it.

“Fabio’s return went well, but we don’t want to rush things, we want to build up carefully,” the team said. “That’s why, in consultation with him, we decided to withdraw him from the race in Denmark and have him start next week in the Renewi Tour.” That race begins on August 20 in Belgium, with Mathieu van der Poel also on the start list.