Johan Jacobs: Swiss power for the Movistar Team

Sixth signing for the Blues' men's team

Former cyclo-cross specialist & runner-up in 2019 Paris-Roubaix Espoirs takes leap towards WorldTour with Telefónica-backed squad: signs two-year contract, will cover only his second season 100% focused on road races in 2020.

The Movistar Team announced Friday that Johan Jacobs (Zürich, SUI; 1997), a current member of the Lotto-Soudal U23 squad, has signed a two-year contract (2020 + 2021) with the structure managed by Eusebio Unzué. It’s the Telefónica-backed squad’s sixth confirmed signing for next season, after Gabriel Cullaigh, Íñigo Elosegui, Enric Mas, Dario Cataldo and Davide Villella.

Jacobs on his way to victory in the Ronde van Vlaams-Brabant ITT last July. (c) Cyclingsite GVJ

2020 will be only the second full season for Jacobs (22) focused entirely on road cycling, following a long, successful career in cyclo-cross -including national titles and victories in World Cup races-. That has not kept the Belgium-based, Swiss rider from snatching impressive results: 2nd in the 2019 Paris-Roubaix Espoirs -the last man able to follow the wheel of British sensation Tom Pidcock-, 7th in the Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften and winner of the ITT + GC of the Ronde van Vlaams-Brabant, one of the most important Belgian races for amateurs.

Jacobs (right) on the podium as 2nd in Paris-Roubaix Espoirs. (c) Amis de Paris-Roubaix

A strong rouleur and time trialist, Jacobs took the start yesterday, together with the Swiss national team, in the Tour de l’Avenir, one of his final races as an amateur before joining the WorldTour with the Blues next January.

Cover picture (c): Cyclingsite GVJ