FUGLSANG Jakob

Type of rider
Climber (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Jul 2016)

General
TOKYO PLANS
He intends to focus on preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo rather than the Tour de France during the 2021 season. The road race at Tokyo 2020 is scheduled to take place on July 24, just six days after the finish of the 2021 Tour de France "I will only use the Tour to prepare for Tokyo. I am convinced that whoever aims for a classification in the Tour will not have recovered in time to win the road race in Tokyo six days later. In 2021 I'd like to win a stage at the Tour, more than trying to repeat a top 10 in the [general classification]." (wielerrevue.nl, 21 Apr 2021; cyclingnews.com, 16 Feb 2021)

FURTHER AMBITIONS
He plans to retire following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and is also targeting the 2022 Tour de France, which is scheduled to start in Copenhagen, Denmark. "My own finish line for my career is actually the 2024 Olympics. I'll be 39 by then, but I can honestly see myself riding another three seasons. I came late to road racing and that's why I perhaps don't feel tired of being a professional racing. I don't feel I'm getting older. I definitely don't feel I've reached my peak and I still look forward to riding my bike when I get up in the morning. I'll keep going as long as I feel enthusiastic and as long as I'm competitive. I think I've got a few more good years in me. It's a goal to be at the 2022 Tour de France which starts in Copenhagen and my home country, that'll be special of course." (cyclingnews.com, 16 Feb 2021; cycling.today, 01 Jan 2021)

CAREER REGRETS
He believes he was not given the correct advice about nutrition when he started out as a professional. "Young riders are better guided than when I was a neo pro. When I debuted, you had to earn a wind tunnel test. Only the best riders of the team were given a chance to do so. Every team also employs an army of dieticians. I had to learn that myself, through trial and error. I wasted eight years of my career eating too little. Nobody pointed this out to me, because that was something you as a rider had to discover for yourself. When a young rider eats too little for one day [now], that is corrected immediately." (cyclingweekly.com, 21 Apr 2021)