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TOUR DE FRANCE

Tour de France says ‘non merci’ to notorious Danish cycling hill

The Tour de France will avoid Denmark’s perhaps-most challenging hill for bicycle racers when the event’s opening stages take place in the Scandinavian country in 2021.

Tour de France says 'non merci' to notorious Danish cycling hill
Postnord Danmark Rundt competitors on Kiddesvej in Vejle in 2011. Photo: Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix

Although the Tour de France peloton will pass through hilly city Vejle in southeastern Jutland, it will not take in Kiddesvej, a steep road in the southern part of the city known to Danish cycling enthusiasts for its challenging gradient.

Vejle Municipality had hoped the Tour de France route would include Kiddesvej, but that will not be the case.

“Vejle wanted it, but it does not give any sporting value because it will be so early in the stage that the riders will barely notice they’re going upwards,” Alex Pedersen, director with the Danish section of the Tour de France company, told newspaper Politiken.

“And I’m quite reluctant to send the advertising caravan, with 130-150 cars, up Kiddesvej, in case their engines blow up or clutches break. That would cause chaos,” he added.

The Kiddesvej incline is 450 metres long and has an average gradient of 11.1 percent. The steepest section has a gradient of around 19 percent.

The road is part of Danish cycling tour Postnord Danmark Rundt and often plays a key role in that race’s outcome.

Tour de France is yet to confirm the final route for the three stages to take place in Denmark.

READ ALSO: 2021 Tour de France to kick off in Denmark

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SPORT

Inaugural Women’s Tour de France to start at Eiffel Tower

The route for the inaugural women's Tour de France was unveiled on Thursday with eight stages, embarking from the Eiffel Tower on July 24th next year.

French cyclist Marion Rousse delivers a speech next to Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme during the presentation of the first edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race.
French cyclist Marion Rousse delivers a speech next to Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme during the presentation of the first edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race. Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP.

The first complete edition of the women’s version of cycling’s iconic race starts on the day the 109th edition of the men’s Tour ends.

After a route that winds through northern France, the race culminates in the Planche des Belles Filles climb in the Vosges mountains.

Danish cyclist Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig said she was over the moon to be taking part.

“I want it to be July now so we can get stared,” she said actually jumping up and down.

“The Tour de France is a reference and when you say you are a cyclist people ask about that. Now I can say I race the Tour de France,” she said after the presentation.

MAP: Details of 2022 Tour de France (and Denmark) revealed

Race director Marion Rousse, a former French cycling champion and now a TV commentator, told AFP it would be a varied course that would maintain suspense over the eight days.

“It is coherent in a sporting sense, and we wanted to start from Paris,” she said of the 1,029km run.

“With only eight stages we couldn’t go down to the Alps or the Pyrenees, the transfers would be too long.

“The stages obviously are shorter for the women than for the men’s races. The men can go 225 kilometres. For the women the longest race on our roster is 175km and we even needed special dispensation for that,” she said. “But it’s a course I love.”

Christian Prudhomme, the president of the Tour de France organisers, was equally enthusiastic.

“The fact it sets off from Paris the day the men’s race ends gives the new race a boost because it sets the media up to follow it more easily.

“It also means that with the Tour de France starting on July 1st and the women’s race ending on the 31st, there will be cycling on television every day of July.”

The men’s race is broadcast in around 190 countries.

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