Fabio Jakobsen will pin on a number for the first time in more than half a year at the eight-day stage race.
In the previous participations at the Tour of Turkey, our team has scored eleven victories and will look to add to this tally between 11-18 April, when it will be in action at the 56th edition of the race. This year, the sprinters will be spoiled, five of the eight stages being suited to their characteristics. The other three will favour the puncheurs and the climbers, the latter aware that the famous Elmali ascent and its tough ramps will once again decide the overall winner.
The Tour of Turkey will also mark Fabio Jakobsen’s return to racing following the crash in which he was involved at the Tour de Pologne, last summer. A stage winner here in 2019, the 24-year-old Dutchman will pull on the Deceuninck – Quick-Step jersey in a competition for the first time in eight months as he makes another important step in his recovery.
Fresh off a solid third place in Scheldeprijs, Mark Cavendish will make his second outing of the season in a stage race, the Manxman returning to Turkey after having racked up a total of seven stage victories at his previous participations. Shane Archbold, Alvaro Hodeg, Iljo Keisse – winner of an unforgettable stage there nine years ago – and Stijn Steels will round out our team for the eight-day race.
“We are happy and excited to have Fabio back with the team. Of course, he was with us at the winter training camp, but now it’s different and we are glad to see that the progress he has made over the past months has brought him here, at the start of his first race since last August. It goes without saying that the most important thing for him will be to take it day by day, find his rhythm again and ease back into racing after the long break he had”, said Rik Van Slycke.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s sports director continued: “This year’s Tour of Turkey puts on the table many stages which should end up in a bunch sprint and we look forward to those. There will be some opportunity for our fast guys, who will rely on a strong team capable of controlling the race and delivering a solid lead-out. It’s a beautiful race and we are glad to be going there and hopefully get some good results.”
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel