“It was a hard race but it was a good race for me. A good start to the season and a good start for my new adventure with Israel – Premier Tech.”
It was a solid start for Jakob Fuglsang in his IPT debut at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. From day one, the Danish rider showed impressive form and consistency which saw him finish the five-stage race in sixth on the General Classification.
With IPT’s sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo forced to abandon after a crash, the traditional final sprint stage in Valencia was all about getting Jakob across the line safely. It may have been the first race for Jakob Fuglsang in IPT colors but you wouldn’t know it from looking at how seamlessly the team raced together over the last five days.
“I’m super happy with how the race went and the feeling that I had and also really happy with how the team raced. We raced as a team and the help and support I got from the guys was great,” added Jakob.
At the finish line in Valencia, Sports Director Zak Dempster echoed Jakob’s thoughts.
“It was a good race for Jakob. He was up there fighting with the best and we can build on that for the next races. Not only was it a good chance for Jakob to test his form but also to get used to racing with the guys. It’s really important they learn how to race with Jakob as a leader, especially in the stressful moments, and I was impressed with what I saw here,” said Zak.
With the first race done and dusted, Jakob will return to Spanish soil next week.
“Now, I’ll have a good week home and then I’m off to Ruta del Sol. Hopefully my shape will continue to improve and I can get an even better result there. The goal is to keep improving my shape ahead of my first big objectives, Strade Bianche and Tirreno – Adriatico.”
