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Jakob Fuglsang

Fuglsang at the 2017 Tour de France

Personal information

Full name

Jakob Diemer Fuglsang

Nickname

King in the North, Fuglen, Birdsong, Birdy

Born

22 March 1985 (age 40)
Geneva, Switzerland

Height

1.81 m (5 ft 111⁄2 in)

Weight

65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb)

Team information

Current team

Retired

Discipline

Road

Role

Rider

Rider type

All-rounder

Major wins

;Mountain bike

Cape Epic (2008)
Road

Grand Tours

Vuelta a España

1 individual stage (2019)

3 TTT stages (2011, 2013, 2019)

Stage races

Critérium du Dauphiné (2017, 2019)

Danmark Rundt (2008, 2009, 2010)

Vuelta a Andalucía (2019, 2020)

Tour de Luxembourg (2012)

Tour of Austria (2012)

Tour of Slovenia (2009)

One-day races and Classics

National Time Trial Championships (2010, 2012)

Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2019)

Giro di Lombardia (2020)

Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (born March 22, 1985) is a Danish former professional road racing cyclist. He was a mountain biker before becoming a professional road racer. He rode for Team Cannondale–Vredestein and won the Under-23 World Cup and Under-23 World Championships. Jakob retired from cycling in June 2025 after the 2025 Giro d'Italia.

Jakob Fuglsang achieved great results in his career. He finished 7th overall in the Tour de France and 6th in the Giro d'Italia. His biggest wins include the 2019 Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the 2020 Il Lombardia races. He also won the Critérium du Dauphiné stage race twice, in 2017 and 2019. He won the Danmark Rundt three times in a row from 2008 to 2010. He also won the Tour de Luxembourg and Tour of Austria in 2012, and the Tour of Slovenia in 2009.

Jakob Fuglsang's Cycling Journey

Starting Out (2006–2008)

Jakob Fuglsang began his professional cycling career in 2006 as a mountain biker. He rode for the Cannondale-Vredestein team.

In 2007, Jakob moved to Italy to focus on his cycling. It was a tough year for him, as he was far from family and friends. However, this allowed him to concentrate on mountain biking. His biggest achievement that year was winning the Under-23 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in September. He beat his main rival, Nino Schurter, on the final lap. After this big win, Jakob got the rainbow stripes tattooed on his arm. These stripes are a symbol of being a world champion.

The next year, Jakob decided to focus more on road racing, but he still competed in mountain bike events. He won the Cape Epic race in 2008 with his teammate Roal Paulissen. He also won the Danmark Rundt road race for the first time. He signed a contract with Team Saxo Bank the day before his Danmark Rundt win.

Riding for Team Saxo Bank (2009–2010)

Fuglsang in the leaders jersey at the 2009 Danmark Rundt

In 2009, Jakob Fuglsang started his first season in the World Tour with Team Saxo Bank. He had a great first year, finishing 6th overall in the Volta a Catalunya and Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. He won his second Danmark Rundt in August and the Tour of Slovenia earlier that year. He also rode his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España.

Fuglsang riding the 2010 Tour de France prologue in his Danish National Time Trial jersey

The year 2010 was a busy one for Team Saxo Bank. Jakob finished 3rd overall in the Tour de Suisse. He also won the Danish National Time Trial Championships for the first time. In July 2010, Jakob rode his first ever Tour de France. His teammate Andy Schleck ended up winning the race. After the Tour de France, Jakob won his third Danmark Rundt in a row. In his last race for Team Saxo Bank, he finished 4th in the Giro di Lombardia.

Time with Leopard Trek (2011–2012)

2011: Wearing a Grand Tour Leader's Jersey

In 2011, Jakob joined the new Leopard Trek team. He showed good form in races like the Amstel Gold Race, where he finished 4th. He also finished 4th overall in the Tour de Suisse. At the 2011 Tour de France, he helped his teammates, the Schleck brothers, who finished 2nd and 3rd overall.

Jakob also raced in the Vuelta a España. His team won the opening team time trial, and Jakob was the first to cross the finish line. This meant he got to wear the Red Leader's Jersey for the next stage! He was only the second Danish rider ever to wear this jersey. He later moved up to 2nd place overall after a strong time trial, but finished 11th overall in the end.

2012: Challenges and Wins

In 2012, Jakob stayed with the Schleck brothers' team, which became RadioShack–Nissan. He was supposed to lead the team in the 2012 Giro d'Italia, but had to pull out due to knee problems. Jakob later won the Tour de Luxembourg. He also won the Danish National Time Trial Championships for the second time.

After some disagreements with his team, Jakob was not allowed to race in other big World Tour events that year. So, he went to Austria and won the Tour of Austria, including a stage win.

Joining Astana (2013–2021)

Fuglsang at the 2013 Tour de France

2013: Top 7 in the Tour de France

At the end of 2012, Jakob joined the Astana team. In the 2013 Tour de France, he was the team leader. On stage 9, he attacked with another rider and finished 2nd. He later moved up to 6th place overall after a strong performance in a crosswind section. Jakob finished the Tour de France in an impressive 7th place overall. Later that year, he helped his teammate Vincenzo Nibali finish 2nd in the Vuelta a España.

2014: Helping a Teammate Win the Tour de France

In 2014, Jakob's main goal was to help Vincenzo Nibali win the 2014 Tour de France. On stage 2, Jakob helped Nibali attack and win the stage. A few days later, they rode together on a tough cobblestone stage, dropping other riders. Jakob finished 2nd on that stage, and Nibali was first overall, with Jakob second. Jakob later dropped out of the top 10 after some difficulties. He finished the race in 36th place.

2015: Chasing a Tour de France Stage Win

In 2015, Jakob aimed to help Vincenzo Nibali defend his Tour de France title. However, the team later gave Jakob a chance to go for his own stage win. On a mountain stage in the Pyrenees, Jakob was part of a breakaway group. He finished 2nd on that stage. In another attempt for a stage win, Jakob was unfortunately knocked down by a motorbike. This ended his chances for a stage victory.

2016: Olympic Silver Medal

Jakob prepared for the 2016 Giro d'Italia by racing the Giro del Trentino, where he finished 3rd overall. In the Giro d'Italia, he helped his teammate Nibali win the race.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Jakob won a silver medal in the road race! He was in a small group at the end of the race. In the final sprint, Greg Van Avermaet won gold, Jakob took silver, and Rafał Majka won bronze. This amazing achievement made Jakob race even more aggressively in the following years.

2017: Winning the Critérium du Dauphiné

In June 2017, Jakob rode the Critérium du Dauphiné. On stage 6, he attacked and won the stage. This was his first win in almost five years and his first World Tour victory with Astana. On the final day of the race, Jakob showed incredible strength. He attacked again, won his second stage in three days, and also won the overall race! This was the biggest win of his career at that time.

After this big win, Jakob was considered one of the top favorites for the Tour de France. He showed good form on stage 9, but later crashed on stage 13, breaking his elbow and wrist. He had to leave the race. Later that year, he won stage 2 of the Tour of Almaty.

2018: Leading the Team at the Tour de France

Jakob started 2018 with good results, finishing 3rd in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and 4th in the Vuelta a Andalucía. He also finished 8th in the Amstel Gold Race and 10th in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He won stage 4 of the Tour de Romandie and finished 4th overall.

Jakob was the team leader for Astana at the Tour de France. The first week was challenging with crashes and mechanical problems. He managed to move up to 7th place overall after a tough cobblestone stage. However, he struggled in the Alps and finished 12th overall in Paris.

2019: Big Wins at Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Dauphiné

Jakob had an amazing 2019 season. He won the Vuelta a Andalucía. He finished 2nd in Strade Bianche after a close sprint. At Tirreno-Adriatico, he won stage 5 and finished 3rd overall. He dedicated this win to his former teammate Michele Scarponi.

Jakob had a fantastic week in the Ardennes Classics, finishing on the podium in all three races. He was 3rd at Amstel Gold Race and 2nd at La Flèche Wallonne. At the final classic, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Jakob was the favorite. He attacked in the final kilometers and won the race, even after a small wobble near the end! This was his first win in a "Monument" classic, which are the biggest one-day races.

Before the Tour de France, Jakob won his second Critérium du Dauphiné. He took the yellow jersey on the second-to-last day and held onto it to win the overall race.

2020: Another Monument Victory

Jakob started 2020 by winning the Vuelta a Andalucía again, also winning two stages. After racing resumed in August, he finished 5th in Strade Bianche and 2nd in the Tour de Pologne. On August 15, he won his second Monument race, the Il Lombardia. This was the first time a Danish cyclist had ever won this race!

At the UCI Road World Championships, Jakob finished 5th in the road race. He also finished 6th overall in the Giro d'Italia, which was his best Grand Tour result at that point.

2021: Final Year with Astana

In 2021, Jakob finished 8th overall at the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var and 9th at Strade Bianche. He finished 3rd overall at the Tour de Suisse. His season ended early after a crash at the Benelux Tour, where he broke his shoulder blade and collarbone.

Israel–Premier Tech (2022–2025)

In October 2021, it was announced that Jakob would join the Israel–Premier Tech team for the 2022 season.

Fuglsang at the 2022 Tour de France

In 2022, Jakob won his first race with the team, the Mercan'Tour Classic. He also finished 3rd overall in the Tour de Suisse for the second year in a row. He had to leave the Tour de France after a crash caused a broken rib.

In the first half of 2023, Jakob raced less due to a health issue. He competed in the Tour de Hongrie and the Mercan'Tour Classic. He retired from professional cycling in June 2025 after the 2025 Giro d'Italia.

Personal Life

Jakob Fuglsang lives in Monaco with his wife, Loulou. They got married in 2015. They have a daughter named Jamie Lou, who was born in June 2017. Before moving to Monaco, Jakob and Loulou lived in Luxembourg. Loulou supported Jakob's cycling career.

Major Achievements

Mountain Bike Races

2002
- 1st Cross-country, National Junior Championships
2003
- 1st Cross-country, National Junior Championships
- 2nd Cross-country, UEC European Junior Championships
2007
- 1st Cross-country, UCI World Under-23 Championships
- 1st Marathon, National Championships
- 2nd Overall Cape Epic (with Roel Paulissen)
- 3rd Cross-country, UEC European Under-23 Championships
2008
- 1st Overall Cape Epic (with Roel Paulissen)
- 3rd Cross-country, UEC European Championships

Road Races

2008
- 1st Overall Danmark Rundt
2009
- 1st Overall Tour of Slovenia
- 1st Overall Danmark Rundt
2010
- 1st Time trial, National Championships
- 1st Overall Danmark Rundt
2011
- 1st Stage 1 (TTT) Vuelta a España
- Held Stage 2
2012
- 1st Time trial, National Championships
- 1st Overall Tour of Austria
- 1st Overall Tour de Luxembourg
2016
- 2nd Road race, Olympic Games
2017
- 1st Overall Critérium du Dauphiné
- 1st Stages 6 & 8
- 1st Stage 2 Tour of Almaty
2018
- 1st Stage 4 Tour de Romandie
2019
- 1st Overall Critérium du Dauphiné
- 1st Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
- 1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- 1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 16 Vuelta a España
- 1st Stage 5 Tirreno–Adriatico
2020
- 1st Overall Vuelta a Andalucía
- 1st Stages 1 & 3
- 1st Giro di Lombardia
2022
- 1st Mercan'Tour Classic