A couple of years ago it looked for all intents and purposes that Jakob Fuglsang’s career as a GC rider was over. Astana - his team then, as it is now – had Vinceno Nibali, Fabio Aru and Mikel Landa on their books, and the chances offered to Fuglsang were few and far between. With 2018 on the horizon, however, Fuglsang is in the best position he has been for years when it comes to leading a Grand Tour challenge, and at the age of 32, might be on the cusp of delivering a major result.
For those who aren’t entirely versed in his career, he was a talented mountain biker who crossed over thanks to the support of Bjarne Riis, and in his first two years at Saxo Bank, the young Dane notched up a number of impressive rides. He looked like a star of the future.
Sixth at the Dauphiné in 2009 was followed by an impressive Vuelta a Espana, and then third overall at the Tour de Suisse the following season. In those early years, he became a trusted lieutenant for the Schleck brothers but when Astana came calling at the start of 2013 the Dane jumped ship.
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Although Nibali signed from Liquigas at the same time and Aru was developing apace in his second year, Fuglsang was afforded the chance to ride for himself at the Tour de France in his debut season in Kazakh colours, and duly paid back that trust with seventh. From that moment on, however, he became a key domestique for Nibali. Grand Tour after Grand Tour passed with the Dane sacrificing his chances for others on a regular basis.
“Maybe there were times that I doubted if I could be a leader again,” Fuglsang tells Cyclingnews from Astana’s camp in Spain.
“I was working for others, and I know that I’m good at it and be one of the best because I can work on lots of different terrains.”
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