Fabio Jakobsen, the Picnic-PostNL cyclist, faces surgery due to iliac artery blood flow limitations in both legs, which have hindered his performance. After a promising winter training to improve his climbing and sprinting, Jakobsen struggled during crucial racing moments, leading to tests that confirmed the problem. The surgery, expected to happen Wednesday, requires a six-week off-bike recovery, with hopes for gradual rehabilitation. Team doctors stress that recovery varies among cyclists with similar conditions, but the diagnosis gives hope for a return to form in the future.
"I trained well this winter and came into the season with some confidence. We picked up some top ten results at UAE Tour and Paris-Nice, but when it came to those key moments and high-intensity sprint efforts, I suffered; my legs simply weren't working as they should."
"It's a setback mentally, of course, but now that we have found the cause of the issue, I am hopeful that the surgery can then solve it. Sometimes you need to take one step back to be able to make two forwards, and I hope that's what I'm going to do now."
"Unfortunately, after conducting recent tests, we have discovered that Fabio has flow limitation of the iliac arteries. As the diagnosis is very clear and currently limiting him on the bike, he will undergo surgery to attempt and fix the issue," Picnic PostNL team doctor Camiel Alders.
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