Press release on behalf of Grand Depart Copenhagen
Danish Jonas Vingegaard crowned an epic narrative of this year’s Tour de France by winning the 2022-edition with an impressive margin to runner-up Tadej Pogacar. Today, Denmark and the Danes welcomed Vingegaard, and the other Danish riders back to Copenhagen, where it all started three weeks ago.
Denmark truly tied the bow today. Three weeks ago, the Grand Départ started in Copenhagen and continued with two more stages through the versatile Danish landscape crowded with cheering Danes. Today, the Danes honored the winner of this year’s Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard at the town square in central Copenhagen. Here Vingegaard stepped out onto the City Hall balcony and greeted the thousands of Danish tourfans who cheered for their cycling hero from the town square.
“Jonas is an inspiration to all of us. The Danish people will never ever forget the summer of 2022. Tens of thousands of Tour fans turned up along the route today and on Rådhuspladsen to give Jonas the reception and tribute he deserves. It was the perfect finale of an adventurous and unforgettable Tour de France. It started in Copenhagen, the cycling capital of the world with 600.000 people along the prologue. In comparison the population in Copenhagen is 640.000. And today we celebrated Jonas in the same streets – we have come full circle. After two years of Covid, loneliness and isolation, a humble, extremely talented and dedicated 25 year old bike rider brought the whole country together again. I already wish that we could have the Tour de France back next year,” says Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Lord Mayor and chairman of the Grand Départ Copenhagen Denmark.
In total the Danish riders won four stages of this edition of the Tour de France. The staging of the Grand Départ and the impressive results by not only Jonas Vingegaard but also the other Danish riders have for sure left a significant mark on Danish cycling and Denmark as a cycling nation and tourist destination.
“Vingegaard’s victory ranks as the millennium’s most outstanding Danish cycling achievement. It is truly tremendous and humbling to be allowed to be a part of it all. This year’s Tour de France brought us a Danish champion, picture-perfect scene of riders, all the beautiful landscapes, first in Denmark and finally in Paris. In the Danish Cycling Federation, and in our clubs, the door is open to children and young people who dream of becoming a rider,” says Henrik Jess Jensen, president of the Danish Cycling Federation.
The staging of the Grand Départ, the massive crowds of Danish cycling fans along the routes in Denmark, and in France, and the Danish dominance in the race are all components of the story:
Jonas Vingegaard, Jumbo-Visma, winner of the Tour de France 2022
- Winner stage 11 & 8
- 2. nd, stage 7, 17 & 20
- Yellow jersey after stage 11
- Polka dot jersey after 18. Etape
Magnus Cort, EF Education – EasyPost
- Winner, stage 10
- Polka dot jersey stage 2–8
- Combativity award stage 3 & 5
Mads Pedersen, Trek-Segafredo
- Winner, Stage 13
- Combativity award Stage 13
Ten Danish riders participated in the Tour de France
Thousands of fans attending the team presentation in Copenhagen, and in Tivoli
Hundreds of thousands of Danish fans along the route in Denmark and France
Thousands of Danish fans in Paris to cheer for Jonas Vingegaard
Thousands of fans welcomed Jonas Vingegaard in Copenhagen
Thousands will embrace cycling for competition and daily life in Denmark onwards
PRESS
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FACTS
- Grand Départ Copenhagen Denmark took place on 1-3. July 2022 and started with a 13 km time trial in the world’s best cycling city Copenhagen. 2nd stage: 202 km from Roskilde to Nyborg, and the 3rd stage with 182 km from Vejle to Sønderborg.
- The Grand Départ in Denmark was organized by a partnership consisting of the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the City of Copenhagen, Nyborg Municipality, Sønderborg Municipality, Vejle Municipality, and Roskilde Municipality as stakeholders. The Capital Region of Denmark, Region Zealand, the Region of Southern Denmark, and Sport Event Denmark contribute to the partnership.