Jakobsen emerged victorious at the end of Stage 4 of the Vuelta a España, sprinting clear on the slight uphill finish to beat out Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) for the stage win.
It was a win that seemed impossible 12 months ago as Jakobsen lay in the intensive care unit after one of the most dramatic and impactful crashes in cycling history.
That he survived is amazing, that he returned to the sport is incredible and to get back to the top of the world of cycling is a feat that is hard to fathom.
“Everybody knows what happened in Poland... we can all say this is the end of my comeback,” Jakobsen said. “I started winning at Grand Tours at the Vuelta two years ago and to be here again winning in a bunch sprint… While the accident will always be part of my life, now I can put it behind me and go again for the sprint finishes, because that’s what I’m good at."
The Dutch rider is a highly regarded sprinter, maybe just short of the absolute top tier of the likes of Caleb Ewan and Sam Bennett, but certainly not far off that level as his recent performances have shown.
“That’s the only thing I can do in the pro peloton, win bunch sprints," said Jakobsen. "So I’ll keep focusing on that from now on. Now it’s on to the next one, and I hope to have another win in the coming days.”
Jakobsen's journey to get to this point hasn't been an easy one for all of its remarkable rapidity, given the severity of his condition after the crash.
“I don’t want to be whining about it but I spent a month in intensive care in Poland," said Jakobsen. "As unlucky and unfortunate as that is, it’s changed me a little bit as a person and you could say my pain limit is a bit higher."
That moment in time also crystallised in Jakbosen's mind what he valued in life and there wasn't a long period of time where he questioned if he would return to the sport, instead, that motivation to get back has fuelled the recovery process.
"This is what I like to do: race my bike," said Jakobsen. "I like to be in this team, riding for wins, and the pain in last 500 metres here was nothing compared to pain after surgery or the pain when I was in intensive care.
“After the surgery, the first thing was the physical part and becoming a normal person once again, and then afterwards the road back to professional cycling started, both physically and mentally. That goes hand in hand."
The return to racing was a tough moment for the still scarred Jakobsen, the fast-paced and tumultuous nature of road racing not slowing down for one rider who had suffered a bad crash as he returned to competition at the Tour of Turkey.
“In the first races, I was of course a bit scared in bunch sprints because it’s hectic, the speed is high and there’s always the possibility of a crash," said Jakobsen. "But once I knew I was ready on a physical level, then I could test if I still had it mentally.
“I was already successful in Tour de Wallonie, when I realised I was physically able to win and mentally I was in the right spot. I was confident, and I guess that’s where the physical and mental sides combine. I was able to win a bunch sprint again.”
The journey from hospital bed to podium isn't unknown within cycling, most professional cyclists have experienced serious crashes, but the severity of Jakobsen's trauma was very different to a broken bone or torn muscles. What's perhaps most remarkable is that the young Danish rider has kept a strong sense of perspective throughout the process. In addition to paying tribute to his team and the medical staff that helped him, Jakobsen dedicated his victory to Bjorg Lambrecht, who crashed heavily at the Tour de Pologne in 2019 and died.
“I would like to dedicate this win to Bjorg Lambrecht, because he’s not amongst us anymore,” Jakobsen said. “I think he’s in heaven and smiling down on us. This victory is also for him and his family. I think about him a lot.”
