Fabio Jacobsen leads the Quick-Step-Alfavinir sprinting power rankings in 2022, and his rapid progress this season suggests he will maintain that position at the Tour de France, which begins July 1 in Copenhagen. As in Lagos on Wednesday and Valencia earlier this month, his dominance was undisputed.

However, it is Mark Cavendish who will be competing with Jacobsen for the quick-step sprinter at the Tour. Cavendish made an unexpected comeback at last year's Tour, winning four stages and opening the new season with a victory in Oman. For now, however, Cavendish will compete in the Giro d'Italia, while Jacobsen will be making his Tour debut.

"The Tour de France is on plan, but that means we need to be in good shape when the Tour de France starts. But that means I need to be in good shape when the Tour de France starts. It's in the back of my mind, but I'm not thinking that far ahead," Jacobsen told reporters in Faro on Friday evening. 'First comes spring, then summer. I missed half of last year, so I really want to work hard this spring, and that's why I'm already at this level now."

Last spring, Sam Bennett (now Beulah Hansgrohe) was the star of Quick Step, but a knee injury in early summer forced her to miss the Tour. Alpecin Phoenix will have Tim Merlier and Mathieu Van Der Pol in the Tour, but it is likely that Quick-Step will choose between Jacobsen and Cavendish.

"That depends," Jacobsen replied when asked in July if two sprinters could coexist on the same team. In Quick Step we usually use one sprinter. There is a long list with 14 names. I am not the only sprinter on that list.

"But that's the plan, that is, it's not preparation for the Giro, it's preparation for the Tour. If I'm not good enough, I'm not going. I guess we will find out sooner or later. Summer is still far away and I don't know what will happen. But I'm in the Algarve now and enjoying it. Summer is next."

Jacobsen, of course, has every reason to enjoy the moment: when he fell into a coma in a Katowice hospital after a horrific crash at the Tour de Pollogne in August 2020, it was uncertain whether he would ever be able to ride a bike again, much less return to competition at this level. Twelve months ago, his very presence in the peloton already felt like a miracle. Now, buoyed by his hat-trick of victories at last year's Vuelta a España, he appears to have become the fastest man in the peloton.

"This time last year I had my second surgery," he said. 'It makes a big difference. I'm happy and grateful to be here."

Having accomplished his mission with two wins and a group finish in the Algarve, Jacobsen will now head north for the next few weeks. He will be a quick-step sprinter in Coure Brussel-Coulomb next weekend and will be looking for back-to-back wins in Paris-Nice.

"These are the big goals for the start of the season," Jacobsen said. I call [Valencia and Algarve] preparation races. We call [Valencia and Algarve] preparation races, because we need to practice a little bit to be at our best. It's a great way to get in shape for Belgium and France."