Dutchman Jakobsen outsprints Van Aert to win Tour stage 2
NYBORG, Denmark—dutch rider Fabio Jakobsen overtook Wout van Aert right on the line for his first stage win on his debut Tour de France, while Van Aert took the yellow jersey for the first time on Saturday.
Jakobsen had showed his prowess on the Spanish Vuelta, winning five stages, and clinched his first success in this race with a late burst to nick victory from Van Aert.
It has been a long road back for Jakobsen.
Two years ago, he was in an induced coma. He needed five hours of surgery on his skull and
face after being sent flying through roadside crash barriers by Dylan Groenewegen near the finish line of the Tour of Poland.
“Today it’s ‘incroyable’ as we would say in French. It’s been a long process step by step. A lot of people have helped me come back so this victory is to pay them back,” Jakobsen said. “I’m happy I still enjoy racing and I can win. The team kept me in good position in front at the end of the bridge.”
It was a second win in two days for the Quick-step Alpha Vinyl team after Yves Lampaert’s win in Friday’s time trial.
Van Aert took the yellow jersey with a six-second bonus for finishing second, to lead Lampaert by one second overall.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to wear the jersey. I’ve tried to get it many times. I’m very happy and proud,” Van Aert said.
He also has the green jersey for best sprinter and is Primož Roglič’s teammate on the Jumbo-visma team.
“We have big ambitions,” Van Aert said.
Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogačar stayed third overall and was eight seconds behind Van Aert.
Pogačar remained nine seconds ahead of his main rival Roglič, who is eighth overall. They both finished in the main pack and did not take time off each other. Roglič was the Tour runner-up in 2020 and has won the past three Spanish Vueltas.