Tough, unlucky, expert: Jakob Fuglsang does not disappoint. The Danish of the Israel–Premier Tech He tells us about his season and, above all, about the one to come. About this cycling world that's changing at the speed of light. It seems like a century has passed since he won Liège, but it's actually 2019 history. And the same goes for the following year's Lombardy.
This year Jakob had started off well. Good sensations and important plans. But already in his first race, the UAE Tour, it ended with a retirement. Fuglsang had felt pain in his saddle. He was forced to stop early. From there, the pain spread. Testicular problems. Months of rest. In the end, the balance of his 2023 racing season was: 33 days of racing and only two top ten finishes.
Jakob, a difficult season…
Yes, definitely. It certainly wasn't the best year. But there's nothing I can do. I'll throw it away and think about the next one.
After your initial problems, you had further setbacks in Luxembourg when you resumed this summer…
I had a stomach virus. The whole family had it. At first, I thought I'd avoided it, but the morning of the first stage, I threw up too. It was a truly wasted season. It was already difficult to find a good level after the break at the beginning of the year, let alone after that. Plus, the calendar wasn't in my favor (Israel didn't do the Vuelta, ed.). We didn't have many races to do. If you train all the time, you have to do at least the first race every time just to get back into the rhythm. This lack of consistency also didn't help me. The team raced a lot in the first part of the season. But from Tour de Suisse after that there wasn't much to do… if you didn't do the Tour de France.
How do you maintain concentration and nerves after a year like that?
I can say that at least in these last few weeks of the year I've been running quite a bit and haven't had to train too much. As for the rest, what do you think? It's my job. And somehow you always try to do it as best as possible in any situation.
Is your mind already on next year?
Yes, yes… I'm already thinking that I want to get off to a good start. And show that what happened to me this year is not because I'm old or I don't feel like it, but only because I was really unlucky.
Jakob, you said you've been training a lot, but running very little. How do you handle these situations? Will you continue to push a little longer, or will you follow the usual rest period?
No, rest. After the last race (the Veneto Classic, ed.) I'll take at least a couple of weeks of complete rest. Then I'll start again in mid-November. Maybe in between I'll do something else, I don't know, run a bit, go to the gym. I always try to leave the bike behind for a while. It helps my mind, too. and then to be hungry for the bike when I have to go back to training.
Speaking of the gym, after the break at the beginning of the year, when did you start working out again?
Absolutely. I really had to start from scratch. You have to think that for a whole month I could not, and should not, touch the bike, nor do any physical activityI couldn't even stand for too long. Plus, I had to take antibiotics: very intense courses. So I had to start from scratch.
Sagan said he wanted to finish as he started, with mountain biking. You were also a great biker. Will you do the same? Are you considering this solution?
No, no – he laughs – I I still have a contract for one year and it's not certain that the next one will be the last. I'm thinking of doing another season, especially if 2024 goes well. Of course, if things go like this year, it doesn't make sense.
And is this hypothetical extra year linked to this season's bad luck?
No, that's it. The extra year will depend on how next season goes. I want to finish at a good level and with the legs to be competitive.
Do you already have any goals in mind for 2024?
I would like to do the Tour de France, Also because it starts in Italy, which I really like, and it's a bit unusual. Plus, it arrives close to home, in Nice. And then it could be my last Tour. For the rest, the goal is to start well, as I said, to find good condition right away. Also because at the beginning of the year there are classics, one above all the Strade Bianche, in which I would like to do well.
You're a veteran now. Do young people listen these days? Or do they already know everything, as many tell us?
They think they know everything, but in the end, they don't! Ultimately, I think experienced riders are still needed. I know many teams are focusing heavily on young riders and are all looking for the next Remco or Pogacar, but even athletes like that need experienced riders around them. Even from this point of view, for example, I feel I have more a lot to give. I've also raced as a domestique in the past, and I know what it's like. So let's make room for us old timers!
Last question, we've touched on the topic of young players. There's one Italian player on your team who's very promising: Marco FrigoWhat do you tell us?
Marco is very strong. Calm, solid. I think he could become a great rider. and earning some serious wins. As we know, he's having some issues downhill, but he's working on it. And he's already improved a lot since he came to us.
Well, you know a thing or two about downhills! Have you ever worked together on this?
A little bit, yes, in retreats…
