Fabio Jakobsen claims second Vuelta stage win of the week

Dutchman continues impressive return as Slovenia’s Roglic retains his overall lead

Fabio Jakobsen celebrates after winning Saturday’s eighth stage of the Vuelta. Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA
Fabio Jakobsen celebrates after winning Saturday’s eighth stage of the Vuelta. Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA

Fabio Jakobsen claimed his second Vuelta a Espana stage win in a week on Saturday as he continued his impressive return from serious injury.

The 24-year-old Dutchman, who also won Tuesday’s third stage, picked his moment in a bunch sprint towards the end to surge to the front and take stage eight, although Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic retained his overall lead.

Jakobsen was left with severe head injuries at the 2020 Tour of Poland and had to be placed in a medically induced coma and required surgery after a high-speed collision with Dylan Groenewegen near the finish line.

He only resumed racing in April, just eight months after the crash.

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Italy's Alberto Dainese and Belgian Jasper Philipsen came second and third respectively.

Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) has an eight-second overall lead over Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) and a 25-second advantage over Enric Mas (Movistar) heading into stage nine on Sunday, which is a punishing 188km mountain route from Puerto Lumbreras to Alto de Velefique.