Denmark will become the tenth country to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2021. The first three stages of the 108th edition of the race will take place in Copenhagen and the southern part of the country. A hundred years after the inaugural edition of the (amateur) World Cycling Championships and a decade after hosting the Worlds for the sixth time, the Danish capital and most bicycle-friendly city in the world will set the scene for the most famous cycling race on Earth.
Copenhagen is home to more bicycles than people. The city that has integrated cycling into its daily life better than any other place in the world is a natural fit for the biggest cycling race on Earth. The Tour de France will head to Denmark in 2021 for the northernmost Grand Départ yet. A time trial through the heart of the Danish capital will kick off the race's Nordic adventure. The next stage will give riders and viewers alike the opportunity to discover the island of Zealand and take the 18 km Great Belt Bridge that will take them to Nyborg on the island of Funen. The visit to Denmark will come to an end on the Jutland peninsula on the mainland with a sprinter-friendly romp between Vejle and Sønderborg. A generation of riders such as Michael Valgren, Søren Kragh Andersen, Mads Pedersen and Magnus Cort Nielsen will fight for their chance on home turf.
Danish stages of the 2021 Tour de France:
Stage 1: Copenhagen (ITT), 13 km
Stage 2: Roskilde > Nyborg, 190 km
Stage 3: Vejle > Sønderborg, 170 km
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime minister of Denmark: "I am both very happy and very proud that the Tour de France is coming to Denmark. Denmark is one of the greatest cycling nations in the world, so to be able to welcome the best bike riders in the world and host the world's most iconic cycling race is an honour and a privilege. The Danes are more than ready to host one of the greatest sporting events in the world. I really look forward to the summer of 2021".
Franck Jensen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen: “It is a tremendous honour for Copenhagen to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2021: the best cycling city in the world welcomes the greatest cycling race in the world. The Grand Départ in 2021 will be the biggest sport event in Denmark ever. We will use this unique opportunity to celebrate the Tour de France and our unique bicycle culture with the rest of the world."
Rasmus Jarlov, Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark: "I am very excited about getting the Tour de France to Denmark. This will be a huge celebration for all of Denmark and for cycling fans all over the world. And it will be a great opportunity for us to show to the world what Denmark has to offer in terms of beautiful scenery, historic sights, our unique cycling culture, our life style, smart city solutions and so much more. It is an amazing branding opportunity for Denmark and I very much look forward to July 2021."
Christian Prudhomme, Director of Tour de France: "The Tour de France is the biggest cycling race on Earth, but we still have much to learn! The Danes set an outstanding example by making bicycles their leading means of transport in urban areas. In Copenhagen, we will meet fans who acclaim the champions of world cycling. The energy that supporters and curious locals will channel to riders, followers and viewers of the Tour will most assuredly be a great source of inspiration to succeed in our greatest challenge: seeing the future on a bike."
