Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (born 22 March 1985) is a Danish professional road racing cyclist, who rides for UCI ProTeam . Before turning professional for , he was a mountain biker racing for Team Cannondale–Vredestein, winning the Under-23 World Cup and Under-23 World Championships.
Fuglsang has finished 7th overall at the Tour de France and 6th at the Giro d'Italia, his best result at a Grand Tour. His best career results are his win in the 2019 Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the 2020 Il Lombardia and his overall wins in both the 2017 and 2019 editions of the Critérium du Dauphiné stage race, in the former of which he won two stages. He has also won several other stage races during his career including Danmark Rundt 3 times in a row from 2008 to 2010, Tour de Luxembourg and Tour of Austria in 2012, and Tour of Slovenia in 2009.
Career
Early years (2006–2008) For the 2006 season Fuglsang rode his first year as a professional mountain biker for Cannondale-Vredestein.
In 2007 Fuglsang moved to Italy in order to focus on riding his bike. It was a hard year for Fuglsang as he had no friends in the area and had no visits from his family. Despite being alone it allowed him to focus on his mountain bike career. The biggest event of his 2007 season came in September where he would ride the Under-23 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. His biggest rival at the event was Swiss rider Nino Schurter. They had competed in GP Tell just weeks before the event where Fuglsang finished 3rd and Schurter 8th. However, when they approached the final of the race Schurter was in the lead but Fuglsang was closing in on the Swiss and overtook him on the final lap on an uphill section. Fuglsang could cross the line as Under-23 World Champion. After the event Fuglsang got tattooed the rainbow stripes on his right arm.
The following year Fuglsang decided to focus more on road racing, however he would still ride mountain bikes races. After having finished 2nd overall with teammate Roal Paulissen in Cape Epic in 2007, he came back with Paulissen again the following year and claimed the overall win. He was leading the 2008 edition of Danmark Rundt heading into the last stage. He had been in contact with , and the deal was finally signed the day before he won Danmark Rundt. Despite having signed the contract, Fuglsang's manager wanted him to wait as his market value could inflate if he won Danmark Rundt which he did the following day.
Team Saxo Bank (2009–2010)
Fuglsang rode his first World Tour season in 2009, riding for which was led by Bjarne Riis. He had a great first year with finishing 6th overall in the Volta a Catalunya and Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Fuglsang won his second Danmark Rundt in August and had also won Tour of Slovenia one and a half months previous. He rode his first Grand Tour in August and September when he started in the Vuelta a España. He crashed in the first couple stages when he rode into the back of a tanker due to limiting road control. Later in the season he finished 2nd in the Italian classic Giro dell'Emilia.
The following year would be a controversial year for . It was uncertain whether the team would continue in 2011 due to a lack of sponsorship interest. Fuglsang wanted to stay at the team but got a great offer from which was enough to persuade him. In June Fuglsang finished 3rd overall in the Tour de Suisse and won the Danish National Time Trial Championships for the first time in his career. In July 2010, Fuglsang started his first ever Tour de France. Despite most of the team set to leave in the 2011 season, Riis managed the team well and Andy Schleck would end up winning the race due to Alberto Contador's Clenbuterol case. Following the Tour de France, Fuglsang won his third Danmark Rundt in a row. In his last race for , Fuglsang finished 4th in Giro di Lombardia after beating Vincenzo Nibali in a sprint.
Leopard Trek (2011–2012)