The International Cycling Union (UCI) has granted the Danish Cycling Federation a license for an initial three years. World Tour Copenhagen, starting in Roskilde and finishing in Copenhagen, is now a reality for 2025, 2026, and 2027.
The UCI World Tour cycling race includes both a race for women and for men. Here, the world's best cyclists will compete in two professional races, starting in Roskilde and taking on the roads of Zealand with tricky Danish crosswinds, beautiful coastal stretches, and historical sights.
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The races conclude with a spectacular final as the field races through a challenging circuit in the streets of Copenhagen.
President of the Danish Cycling Federation, Morten Anderson says: “It has been a dream for many years to secure a permanent spot at the highest level of the international cycling calendar, so it's a big day for the Danish Cycling Federation and Danish cycling.
“The awarding of the World Tour license and the right to hold World Tour races shows that Danish cycling culture and our fantastic audience have really been noticed abroad of which we should be proud. Having the world's best female and male riders race on Danish roads should also support the great work in clubs and local teams, and help breed new talents, so we can continue the incredible success of Danish cycling.”
Lord Mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen is thrilled that Copenhagen, as a cycling city, once again will host a cycling race embraced by a vibrant festive celebration of cycling: “It's a big day for me as Lord Mayor and as a cycling fan. In a great cycling city like Copenhagen, the world's best riders should not just be someone we watch on screen and from the sofa.
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By GlobalData“We should see them from the front row in our streets. It's simply historic that together with our partners we are getting our very own UCI World Tour cycling race, which will bring the absolute cycling elite to Denmark. Around the race, we will create a public festival and a recreational cycling race where everyone is invited, and a political summit setting new ambitious goals for everyday cycling.”
Citizens, businesses, and community life are invited to join in creating a huge cycling festival, which will feature public races on the route of cycling activities and side events celebrating Denmark as the world's best cycling country. A political summit will set ambitious goals for everyday cycling in the future.
The World Tour is a joint project between the Danish Cycling Federation, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the City of Copenhagen, Sport Event Denmark and the Municipality of Roskilde.
Acting Minister for Culture, Christina Egelund: “It’s a big accomplishment that we are hosting an absolutely world-class cycling race in the streets of Denmark, where the world's best cyclists will fight for victory – hopefully with a Dane on top of the podium.
“The Danish Government has a big ambition to organize a great amount of major events that generates excitement and unite us across the country. As a passionate cycling nation, I therefore anticipate that this will not be the last major cycling race on Danish soil.”
Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Morten Bødskov: “Denmark is a proud cycling nation, and we saw this with last year's huge success with the Start of the Tour de France.
“As a tourist destination, it's important that Denmark can attract international sporting events, and therefore the government has allocated extra funding to the World Tour Copenhagen. It's huge that Denmark can attract sporting events of this scale and get some of the world's best riders out on Danish roads.”
Director of Sport Event Denmark, Lars Lundov: “Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix – and now also World Tour Copenhagen. It's fantastic that Denmark has been awarded a World Tour for both men, and women. Denmark has previously hosted the starts of the grand tours, the Giro d’Italia, and the Tour de France, a UCI Road World Championship, and numerous other World and European Championships in various cycling disciplines across the country.
“When the UCI chooses to grant the Danish Cycling Federation this license, it is a strong endorsement of Denmark as a cycling event nation and destination, Danish elite cycling but also everyday cycling. Cycling events unite people. Together with DCU, Copenhagen, and Roskilde, we are once more stepping up.”
Mayor of Roskilde Municipality, Tomas Breddam: “We experienced an enormous enthusiasm and joy for cycling during the Tour de France. With the World Tour, we continue a strong tradition of cycling races starting from Roskilde. It's going to be a celebration for everyone.”
Managing Director of Wonderful Copenhagen, Mikkel Aarø-Hansen: “World Tour Copenhagen is a huge opportunity to create value for many. Events are important for the capital's tourism, especially when they tap into the city's DNA, like our cycling culture. But they are also valuable platforms for international branding of our capital – a branding that goes beyond the event itself.
“In this way, we strengthen both tourism and the general awareness of our capital, and at the same time, we contribute to spreading everyday cycling globally. There's a huge opportunity and task when Denmark's capital now gets its own World Tour race. We're looking forward to it.”
FACTS ON WORLD TOUR COPENHAGEN
- A recurring UCI World Tour cycling race for female and male riders.
- A political summit that sets new, ambitious goals to promote everyday cycling as a green and healthy lifestyle. A popular cycling event where everyone can participate and experience the route.
- Everyone is invited to a festive celebration of cycling. Volunteer associations, the business community, and organizations are involved and together will create a cycling festival that involves all cycling-loving Danes.
- The partners behind World Tour Copenhagen are the City of Copenhagen, the Municipality of Roskilde, the Danish Cycling Federation (DCU), Sport Event Denmark, Wonderful Copenhagen, and the Danish government represented by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs.
