Fabio Jacobsen returned to the Soudal-QuickStep team bus with a large abrasion showing through his torn jersey on his right shoulder and side.
For a second day, Jacobsen missed his maiden victory in the 2023 Tour de France, as compatriot and rival Jasper Philipsen took the win after another impressive lead from Alpecin Deekonink teammate Mathieu van der Poel.
On the Soudal-QuickStep team bus, Jacobsen and his teammates could only lick their wounds and hope their luck turned around after the stages in the Pyrenees.
Julien Alaphilippe will fly the Belgian team’s flag in the mountains despite suffering in the opening stage in the Basque Country, while Philipsen will have to struggle in the gruppetto and hope he can recover for the expected sprint in stage seven in Bordeaux on Friday.
Philipsen did not stop talking about the crash and was immediately treated by a Soudal-QuickStep doctor.
“Fabio had some cuts on his shoulder and his back from the ‘beautiful’ asphalt. I think he won’t sleep much tonight,” explained team principal Patrick Lefevre after checking Jacobsen’s injuries.
“There were a lot of crashes today at the track finish. The question is whether that was the track’s fault or the riders’ fault. Some sprinters took some big risks. Unfortunately, sprinters always take risks and so it’s inevitable that there will be a crash.”
Lefevere spoke with his passengers to understand how the accident happened.
“Julian Alaphilippe wanted to push him forward because the team was too far behind. But they couldn’t get out, which makes sense because no team wants to give way in a sprint,” he explained.
Fabio looked forward to see if he could go on his own and then Matthew van der Poel came in with Jasper Phillipsen on the right. [Van der Poel] He touched his front wheel with Fabio’s rear wheel.”
Former runner and sports director Tom Stills looked back at a replay of Jacobsen’s crash on his phone with another staff member, surprised by what he saw.
He seemed surprised that Jacobsen was able to finish the ride and get on the team bus. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Kazakhstan) and Jacobo Guarnieri (Lotto Destiny) were not so lucky, as both were suspected of having broken collarbones.
“Fabio is fine but his bike is in three pieces, it was a hard crash,” said Stills.
“He’s lost a lot of skin but let’s hope he recovers and feels okay on the bike so he can struggle through the Pyrenees.”
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