Evening Headlines: Fabio Jakobsen takes his first pro victory | John Degenkolb sidelined by bronchitis | Chris Froome expected to start Tour of the Alps

Fabio Jakobsen takes his first pro victory at the semi-classic Noker Koerse

Fabio Jakobsen took his first pro victory today at the semi classic Noker Koerse. Quick-step – Floors led from the front on home soil in Belgium, chasing back a threatening breakaway that escaped with 35km to go, before shutting down attacks from on form cyclo-cross world champion Wout Van Aert and Team Sky’s Luke Rowe. Patrick Lefevere’s men in blue set Jakobsen up perfectly for the sprint, as he as rounded Pascal Ackermann on the uphill cobbled finish to a comprehensive victory.

John Degenkolb to miss Milan Sanremo as a result of bronchitis.

John Degenkold has been ruled out of Milan Sanremo due to a continued fight with bronchitis.  The 29 year old German pulled out of Paris-Nice on stage 6 last week as a result of chest problems, which also plagued the end of his 2017 season. Giacomo Nizzolo, the other leading sprinter for Trek-Segafredo has also been pulled off the starting list for the race as a result of knee pain which saw him drop out of stage 4 of the Tirreno-Adriatico. Nizzolo’s 2017 was also plagued by problems as tendinitis prevented him from racing a full calendar at top form. Trek will replace Degenkolb with American Kiel Reijnen and Nizzolo with Boy van Poppel.

Chris Froome is expected to continue his preparation for the Giro in the Alps.

Chris Froome is due to start the Tour of the Alps next month as he continues his run up in form towards this year’s Giro d’Italia. Froome who is targeting a historic Giro-Tour double in 2018 has yet to show his best this season, being eclipsed in the Tirreno-Adriatico by team mates Geraint Thomas and Michal Kwiatkowski, who came third and first respectively to Froome’s 33rd. The Tour of the Alps is seen as a sharpener for the  Giro and has been a successful race for Sky who have provided the winner in the last three seasons.