Fabio Jacobsen is almost certain to leave Soudal-Quick Step for the 2024 season.

The Dutch sprinter has completed six years with the Belgian team and continues to build his team around Remco Evenpoel for his Tour de France debut next summer.

Speaking to NOS after stage 9 of the Tour on Sunday night, Jacobsen said he spoke with team boss Patrick Lefebvre during the race and confirmed that he will change teams when the pro cycling transfer market opens on August 1. 5]

"I spoke with Patrick on the Tour bus. We hugged at the end of our conversation. But alas, I can't be here.

"The search continues and it's good. I've been a part of the team family for six years, Soudal-QuickStep is in my heart and so is Patrick. I want to finish the job here and on August 1 that will be evident.

"It was already decided, but Patrick and I hadn't met since the spring. As the team boss he has to know what's going on and I can talk to him about it. I didn't want to break up a fight."

Jacobsen is currently competing in the Tour after a major crash in Nogaro on stage 4. The European champion won a stage last year and finished fourth this time in Bayonne on stage 3, and will have a better chance on stages 11, 18, 19, and 21 if he recovers from severe road rash and abrasions.

But for Soudal-Quick Step, which aims to build a team around world champion Evenpoel next July, their legendary lead-out train will not be part of the team. Fellow sprinter Tim Merlier is under contract until the end of 2025 and may compete as a solo "freelance" sprinter without a train or concentrate on the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.

"Tim Mellier has been here for three years, so if he stays for two more, he will share with Lemko and other top sprinters. I want to go to the Tour and sprint."

DSM-Filmenig is the likely destination for Jacobsen, and the newly revamped team is looking for a proven top sprinter next season.

The move of 26-year-old Jacobsen would mark the beginning of a sweep of the Dutch team and the accompanying mini merry-go-round of sprinters.

Italian sprinter Alberto Dainese, who has won two stages of the Giro in the past two years, is rumored to be moving to Tudor Pro Cycling, while second-year pro Sam Welsford, who is currently racing in the Tour, could move to Bora-Hansgrohe. Sam Bennett may also leave the German team as his contract expires this year.

German 22-year-old Marius Meyerhofer, winner of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, could also leave dsm. Elsewhere, 21-year-old Olaf Kooij, who was rumored to be with Bora Hansgrohe and others, extended his contract with Jumbo Visma last month.

Since athletes' transfers are not officially announced until August 1, Jacobsen could not confirm his move to DSM-Filmenig and said his future was "after the Tour."

"It's a good team, Dutch and Swiss," he said. But that's after the Tour. First of all, it's about performing in this Tour with my second family."