Guangxi: Jakobsen raises his head in a Visma jersey

Fabio Jakobsen is back in the spotlight. On Thursday, the Dutch sprinter finished fourth in the third stage of the Tour of Guangxi , a result that feels very much like the comeback of a champion who had seemed lost for too long.

For years one of the most feared sprinters in the peloton, capable of winning sprints in all types of races and taking the points classification at the 2021 Vuelta a España , the 30-year-old former Dutch national champion boasts 46 career victories. Recently, however, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider had become a shadow of his former self. His last victory dates back to April 2024, and his fourth-place finish in Guangxi is his best WorldTour finish since the UAE Tour in February of that year.

The last few years have been extremely difficult: illnesses and injuries, including iliac artery endofibrosis , have often prevented him from finishing races, let alone competing in sprints. His results were already declining towards the end of his stint at Soudal-QuickStep, and his move to what is now Picnic-PostNL didn't change things: in over four years with the team, he scored just one victory.

However, his mid-season move to Visma in the summer seems to have rekindled something. Since his arrival on August 14, Jakobsen has already won two national races and has begun to climb the finish rankings, earning praise from the sports director in China, Gaëton Pons .

"This fourth place almost seems like a small victory considering where Fabio comes from," Pons explained. "In his last four races with the team, he achieved his four best results of the season. Physically, he's not yet back to his former level, but the progress is clear. He's eager to fight again, he enjoys racing, and he shows a lot of confidence. It's an important step forward for next season."

The stage hadn't even been marked in red for him: 212.3 km with nearly 1,800 meters of elevation gain. Watching Jakobsen drop behind the pack every time the road climbed had become a sad but familiar sight. This time, however, he surprised everyone, staying close until the finish.

"He overcame the climbs thanks to the support of his teammates. In the final stages, the guys did an excellent job. Fabio himself said that it had been a long time since he had such a good group. Owain Doull , in particular, did a fantastic job in the final meters."