Tour de France to start in Denmark in 2021

Denmark has a unique cycling culture with a great part of the population riding their bikes to and from school or work every day. Cycling is a part of the Danish DNA, and Copenhagen has been named the best cycling city in the world.

Therefore, Denmark is guaranteed to deliver a truly unique setting for the start of the Tour de France in 2021.

On the 2nd, 3rd and 4^th of July 2021, Denmark will host the first three stages of the Tour de France under the headline "Grand Départ Copenhagen - Denmark".

The opening stage, the Grand Départ, will take place in the cycling-friendly capital featuring an approx. 13-kilometre time trial in central Copenhagen.

Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen remarks:

“It is a tremendous honour 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 Depart in 2021 will be the biggest sporting event ever held in Denmark. We look forward to celebrating together and showing the world our passion: the Tour de France and our unique bicycling culture.”

The following two stages will pass along beautiful coastlines, through historic cities and across spectacular bridges, traversing varied landscapes throughout Denmark.

The second Danish stage on 3 July will feature an approx. 190-kilometre route from Roskilde to Nyborg across the spectacular Great Belt Bridge. The third stage will be an approx. 170-kilometre route from Vejle to Sønderborg on 4 July.

The Tour de France is broadcast in 190 countries and has about 3.5 billion TV viewers during the race. Over 900,000 spectators are expected to attend the three Danish stages.

The Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Rasmus Jarlov comments:

”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.”

Denmark officially submitted its bid for a Grand Départ two and a half years ago. Along the way, both the royal family, the government, municipalities and regions, Wonderful Copenhagen, and Sport Event Denmark have been focused on getting the race to Denmark.

Race director Christian Prudhomme is excited about Denmark being elected as host for the Grand Depart 2021:

”Of course the Tour de France, with the best professional sports cyclists in the world, had to visit Denmark and Copenhagen – the best country and the city in the world for every day cycling. The Grand Départ Copenhague – Danemark 2021 is the ‘rendez-vous’ to celebrate the mutual inspiration between every cycling and professional cycling.”

Presentation of Grand Départ Copenhagen – Denmark

The Danish Tour start will be presented today, Thursday 21 February 2019, at Copenhagen City Hall, with the participation of the Director of the Tour de France, HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark, the Prime Minister of Denmark, the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs and the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen.

Afterwards, Christian Prudhomme, together with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, will visit all the Danish stage cities during Thursday 21 February and Friday 22 February 2019. Here they will attend press meetings with the respective mayors at the following time slots:

• Thursday at 10.30 press conference at Copenhagen City Hall
• Thursday at 13.45 press conference at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde
• Thursday at 17.00 press conference in Nyborg at Hotel Sinatur Storebælt (without participation of the Prime Minister)
• Friday at 10.00 press conference at Vejle City Hall
• Friday at 14.00 press conference at Sønderborg Castle

The press conferences will be live streamed at www.facebook.com/tourstartdk

Follow #TourstartDK on Facebook and Twitter

Enclosed

Press release, fact sheet and quotes for press usage, incl. contact info

Additional information, royalty free photos and films can be found at: www.em.dk/tdf

For additional comments, please contact:

• The Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Rasmus Jarlov via press officer Sara Ringgaard Price, srp@em.dk, +45 9139 9407
• The Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen via Head of Press, Rikke Egelund, EB2F@kk.dk, +45 3147 9497
• Race director Christian Prudhomme via press officer Clara Brunel, cbrunel@aso.fr, +33 (0)6 07 02 42 17