Fabio Jakobsen returned to racing for the first time since Scheldeprijs.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl continued its adventure in Hungary, just three days after the Giro d’Italia started from the Eastern European country, this time at the national tour. The race got underway Wednesday afternoon with a largely flat between Csákvár and Székesfehérvár, at 198 kilometers, the longest leg of the 43rd edition.
Five riders jumped early from the peloton, and despite having a maximum advantage that didn’t exceed three minutes, they made the chasers work hard in order to have the race come down to a bunch sprint, the catch being made as they prepared to go under the flamme rouge.
Having been protected by his teammates throughout the day, Fabio Jakobsen was among the favourites for the stage honours, but a chicane at 800 meters to go made things really messy out there and the Dutchman couldn’t get in the wheel of Florian Sénéchal, who was preparing to launch him, and as a result didn’t play a role in the fight for victory, which was nabbed by Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma). Another opportunity will come Thursday, when the riders will travel from Karcag to Hajdúszoboszló.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
