Jakob Fuglsang Forced to Withdraw from Tour de France Due to Fractured Rib

Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang, a climber for Team Israel – Premier Tech, will not be participating in stage 16 of the Tour de France after sustaining a fractured rib in a crash during stage 15. Although Fuglsang managed to complete the stage, subsequent X-ray results confirmed the injury, leading him and the team’s medical staff to decide that it is in his best interest to return home for immediate recovery.

Fuglsang expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that continuing the race would not be productive considering the extent of his injury. He stated, “I’ve tried to race with a fractured rib before and fight through it and make it all the way until the end. But, in this case, I know I have nothing to win by trying to hang on, so it’s better to pull the plug, go home, and recover.”

Despite his withdrawal, Fuglsang remains optimistic about the team’s performance and future stage wins. He added, “I hope the team can keep up the good work. There are some hard stages to come, but they will keep fighting until the end and hopefully get another stage win.”