Jakob Fuglsang He's changing his skin again. The Dane has left the Astana group after nine seasons. Among the WorldTour greats, only Valverde, Ulissi, Pinot e puccino They've stayed on the same team for just as long. And for someone approaching 37, that's no small feat. It means getting back in the game, accepting new challenges, stepping out of your current comfort zone.
For the former biker who landed at Israel - Premier Tech His goals will no longer be the Grand Tours, as he had already declared last year, but the classics. And this time it's not just "his" Liège (which he won in 2019).
New adventures
Fuglsang paid a heavy price for Covid, even though he had been the best on his return in 2020. He had dominated the unusual Lombardy summer and "paid the price" for Tour of Italy in the fall. And 2021 went so-so, with the aftermath of 2020 and a few hiccups.
«Last season wasn't my best – Fuglsang said some time ago – and for this reason I want to make up for it by starting off well right away. I will try to fight for a victory from the very beginning of the season. La Strade Bianche It is certainly one of the first major goals. Later I'll also do Flanders. Then I'll think about the Ardennes."
There will be another tough "old man" next to him, Michael Woods. The Canadian, who is a year younger, was one of last year's most consistent riders, and it was in the Ardennes that he perhaps showed his best side. During the reconnaissance of the Doyenne, he displayed incredible concentration and tackled the Redoute with ferocity, right before our eyes.
«If there is the possibility of being two at the end of a monument classic – Fuglsang continued – It would be an advantage. We would have the opportunity to play our cards and make a difference. The important thing is that one of the two wins a big race this year."
Cozzi satisfied
This time, Fuglsang isn't just targeting Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders await him. Two prestigious, extremely tough races that require a certain level of riding skill. And in this regard, the former U23 MTB world champion shouldn't have any problems.
This year, the Flanders will see more champions than usual at the start. In addition to the specialists, they have also raised their arms Nibali, pogacar and now the Dane. Even though Jakob has only run the race once Ronde.
His debut with Israel – Premier Tech was truly lively. The Dane finished the Valenciana race in sixth place. But what made him happy were the sensations.
It was a tough race, but ideal for me. A good start to the season and a good start to my adventure with Israel-Premier Tech. I'm very happy with how the race went, with the sensations I had and also very happy with how the team performed. I've had fantastic support from my teammates. We're getting to know each other."
“I saw a very determined Fuglsang,” sporting director Claudio Cozzi told us. “Jakob didn’t come here to be a ‘passing player’.” He seemed like a very serious guy to me. A guy who knows what he wants.
"The program? We drew it up together, which is something we do especially with the leaders. We try to create a personalized calendar with them, also based on their preferences. Good riders are a potential that must be exploited, for their own sake and for the team's success. If a rider doesn't want to go to a race, there's no point in bringing him. Yes, he was the one who asked to do Flanders."
In short, Fuglsang is on the ball. And every decision he makes has been carefully considered.
Dirt in the DNA
And as for the dirt (and starting strong), it all makes sense, given how things went in the Valencian Community. "I'm happy with how things went on the dirt. I gave it my all in those 1.700 meters... maybe too much in one corner! But that's okay," said the Dane.
The feeling with the bike is also apparently excellent. The Dane, usually very calm, said that his Factor Ostro Vam It's probably the best road bike I've ever owned. “It’s such a well-balanced bike that it’s a joy to ride.”
Bike or no bike, the Dane is like fine wine: the older he gets, the more he develops his qualities. In the peloton, it's not just the "kids" of the new generation who make their voices heard. Before they can win, they have to beat the veterans.
After the Valenciana, I'll resume at the Ruta del Sol. I hope my form continues to improve. I'd like to achieve a better result than the Valenciana there. My goal is to continue improving my fitness in preparation for my next goals.
Strade Bianche in the lead
And really keep an eye on these two Italian races, the Strade Bianche and the Tirreno-Adriatico.
«Jakob really cares about the Strade Bianche – says Cozzi – we will arrive in Tuscany on March 2nd (three days before the race, ed.) and We will take advantage of this to carry out in-depth reconnaissance." The Dane is also a master of bike setup. Last year, just before the Siena race, he was discussing sensations, millimeters, and even had some adjustments made to the crankset.
"Jakob," Cozzi concludes, "knows what's best for him. As I said, he's very professional, and his track record speaks for itself. He understood where he can do well and which races could be best suited to his potential. at this stage of his career."
