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TOUR DE FRANCE

IN PICTURES: Stages 2 and 3 of Denmark’s Tour de France stages

After the Grand Depart from Copenhagen on Friday and strong winds on the Grand Belt Bridge on Saturday, Denmark's Tour de France route makes its way from Velje to Sønderborg today. Here are the best pictures from Stages 2 and 3.

Published: 3 July 2022 17:14 CEST
IN PICTURES: Stages 2 and 3 of Denmark's Tour de France stages
The pack of riders cycles during the 3rd stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182 km between Vejle and Sonderborg in Denmark, on July 3, 2022. Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP

Denmark’s Tour de France ‘Grand Depart’ event kicked off Stage 1 on Friday July 1st with a time trial event that saw a completely flat route through Copenhagen’s streets.

READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: The Tour de France starts in Denmark

Stage 2 on Saturday 2nd was harder work, with a 202km ride between Roskilde and Nyborg that ended on the breathtaking Grand Belt Bridge.

Today’s Stage 3 sees riders cycle 182km from Velje to Sønderborg on a route that includes several steep climbs but also passes by many UNESCO sights, including a sprint past World Heritage site Christiansfeld.

As Denmark hosts the famous Tour de France,  The Local takes a look at some of the best pictures from Stages 2 and 3 of the race.

The peloton at the Great Belt Bridge during the second stage of Tour de France between Roskilde and Nyborg, Denmark on July 2, 2022. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix
 

Riders on the Great Belt Bridge. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix
 
 
Riders faced not only a 200km plus ride and strong winds when crossing Denmark’s iconic bridge, but Royal spectators:

The peloton at the Great Belt Bridge and the Danish Royal yacht “Dannebrog” on sea during the second stage of Tour de France between Roskilde and Nyborg, Denmark on July 2, 2022. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix
 
As the race moved onto Stage 3 on Sunday, Danish riders were keen to impress their home fans, and Magnus Cort Nielsen wore the dotted climber’s jersey.

Belgian rider Wout Van Aert wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey (L), and Danish rider Magnus Cort Nielsen wearing the climber’s dotted jersey (C) and UAE Team Emirates team’s Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the best young rider’s white jersey (R) await the start of the 3rd stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182 km between Vejle and Sonderborg, on July 3, 2022. Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP
 

The pack of riders cycles during the 3rd stage of the race. Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP
 

Spectators cheer as the pack of riders passes during the 3rd stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race. Photo: Marco BERTORELLO/AFP
 
And it wasn’t just the Royals interested in the race. Denmark’s politicians also took an interest.

Denmark’s Minister of Trade and Industry Simon Kollerup at the the third stage of Tour de France in Genner, Denmark on July 3, 2022. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix.
 

Danish rider Magnus Cort Nielsen wearing the climber’s dotted jersey cycles in a breakaway during the 3rd stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182 km between Vejle and Sonderborg in Denmark, on July 3, 2022. -Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP
 

Diernæs Strand near Haderslev during the third stage of Tour de France in Vejle, Denmark, Sunday July 3, 2022. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix

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SPORT

Denmark’s Vingegaard having ‘tough time’ after Tour de France triumph

Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard has been having a "tough time" since winning the Tour de France in July, the sporting director of his club Jumbo Visma said Thursday.

Published: 18 August 2022 14:31 CEST
Denmark's Vingegaard having 'tough time' after Tour de France triumph

The 25-year-old rider — who was absent from the start of the Tour of Denmark on Tuesday and will not participate in September’s world road race championships in Australia — has kept a low profile since his triumphant return to Copenhagen.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to welcome the Tour de France champion back to Denmark following his victory last month.

“I understand that fans want to see Jonas, and I spoke to him about it yesterday. But he has had a very tough time after the Tour”, Frans Maassen told daily Ekstra Bladet.

“We would have liked to show him off during this race (the Tour of Denmark), but we also have to understand that it was difficult to win the Tour de France, what with everything that comes with it.”

Vingegaard’s presence would also have heaped even more pressure on him, he said.

The rider has not commented on his absence from his home race.

“It’s one thing to be physically ready, but you also have to be mentally ready,” Tour of Denmark official Frank Hyldgaard told Danish news agency Ritzau.

After having “invested a lot” in the Tour de France, “there’s no doubt that he’s exhausted now,” Quickstep cyclist Michael Morkov told Ekstra Bladet.

Long seen as a stigma, the mental health struggles of top athletes have in recent years come into focus as an increasing number of stars open up publicly about their problems.

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