Copenhagen Sprint

Copenhagen Sprint  – hundreds of thousands along the route

COPENHAGEN REGION
DENMARK
22 JUNE 2025
LENGTH: 3.54
PRODUCER ANDERS KONGSHAUG +45 23103058
SOURCE:
A. KONGSHAUG PRODUCTIONS (KP) (2.54 0 MINUTE). FREE COPYRIGHT FOR NEWS.
B. WBD Eurosport (TOTAL 1 MINUTE)

STORY

Copenhagen premiered a new popular race on the UCI World Tour called Copenhagen Sprint, that is focusing on the sprint, after successfully hosting the Tour de France Grand Départ just three years ago with massive crowds showing up. Several hundred of thousands showed up along the route through Copenhagen Region.

The favourites was Olav Kooij from Nederland and Team Visma, Mads Petersen from Denmark and Lidl – Trek, aswell as others from the top teams Euskaltel-Euskadi, Lotto and all the UCI World Tour teams with several victories in Giro de Italia and other recent races.

The popularity of bikes in Copenhagen is also important. Itcomes from the city’s bike culture including the innovative bike-roads and bridges making biking easy and fast, aswell as more popular than cars. Creating a UCI mega event named called Copenhagen Sprint wasn’t difficult to support for.

The race started with attacks right from the official start, with five riders successfully breaking away: Jensen Plowright from Australia and Alpecin-Deceuninck, Danish rider Joshua Gudnitz from Team ColoQuick, Belgium’s Victor Vercouillie from Team Flanders-Baloise, Mads Andersen from Denmark’s AIRTOX–Carl Ras, and George Jackson from New Zealand and Team Burgos-BH.

The 235 km / 146 mile route for the men started in Roskilde, the old capital for the vikings where Danish Royal Kings and Queens has been laid to rest since. Th passed through the North Zealand, one of Denmark’s most attractive regions in Denmark, ending with five laps in the capital, Copenhagen. A route of 181 km / 112 miles, extended by another 54 km / 33 miles through the five final laps.

Crowds was cheering wildly and supporting – all along mile route, which was amazing for the riders.
Danish Joshua Gudnitz from Team ColoQuick took the 3 first point in the first of 3 sprints, drove 51 km per hour / 31 miles.

The next sprint passed the Fredensborg Palace that is Denmark´s Queen Margrethe II ’s private residence. Australian Jensen Plowright, Alpecin – Deceuninck  won and also ended up getting 7 points that was 1 point more than Gudnitz and getting him on the podium.

The route passed Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød — a grand Renaissance palace surrounded by lakes and gardens, once home to Danish kings and now hosting official visits to the King and Royal family.

The biggest lead was 4.15 minutes as the  for breakaway riders arrived to Copenhagens. In the lead was Jensen Plowright. Joshua Gudnitz. Victor Vercouillie and George Jackson.

The riders crossed  the busiest bicycle bridge in the world — Queen Louise’s Bridge — which sees around 45,000 to 50.000 bike rides per day, which is the highest documented in the world.

The final sprint was at the National Gallery, but on the final lap 9.9 km /6.15 miles before the finish-line a  massive crash in the peloton took place. 50 riders was left for the finish. But without the favourites Olav Kooij from the Netherlands and Team Visma | Lease a Bike, and the Danish favourite Mads Pedersen from Lidl–Trek, who had claimed several wins in the recent Giro d’Italia and last year’s Tour de France.

The sprint began in a tricky curve, with thousands cheering from both sides of the road. In the charging group of sprinters, it was Belgium’s Jordi Meeus from Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe who powered ahead to take the win — just in front of two Frenchmen: Alexis Renard of Cofidis, and Emilien Jeannière from Team TotalEnergies, finishing third.

The first-ever winner of Copenhagen Sprint, Jordi Meeus, was, of course, “happy he can go home with a win”. After the finish, he said:

“I knew it was a headwind. I noticed it a couple of laps before, so yeah — I knew it was a matter of not being there too early. In the end, it was super hectic. And I think, if I could really have chosen, I would have liked a slightly better position in the last corner. But in the end, everything opened up, and I still had a good sprint in the legs.”

It was Jordi Meeus 14. win on the world tour.

The race had an impressive average speed of 46.9 km/h (29 mph) despite the changing surfaces between asphalt and cobblestones.

After the ceremony, Meeus was also asked about the atmosphere:

“From beginning to end, there were crowds lining the road. You can really tell that cycling lives here in Denmark. I was really happy to be part of this race — it was amazing to ride with so many people cheering all along the route.”

The spectators shared that feeling.

Michael Bjerring, spectator:
“It’s amazing. It’s like a little party. We have so many great Danish riders, and you can feel the vibe — it’s beautiful. It’s like the Tour de France four years ago.” (Editor’s note: It was three years ago.)

Anders Møller, spectator:
“The atmosphere here is really great. A lot of people. A lot of happy people. It’s been wonderful.”

Copenhagen Sprint offered a wide selection of activities to engage, including a free ride for the public on the closed circuit in Copenhagen and the story continues, when Copenhagen Sprint l returns in late June 2026.
END

SHOT

  • AERIAL COPENHAGEN  (KP: 10. JUNE 2025)
  • AERIAL BIKE BRIDGE WITH PUBLIC BOAT IN COPENHAGEN  (KP: 10. JUNE 2025)
  • AERIAL BIKE BRIDGE THE BICYCLE SNAKE 230 METER LONG  (KP: 10. JUNE 2025)
  • AERIAL BIKE BRIDGE THE QUAY BRIDGE (10. JUNE 2025)
  • SIGN “Start” AND “Copenhagen Sprint”. RIDERS PASSING (WBD Eurosport)
  • 5 RIDERS IN FRONT. (WBD Eurosport)
    SIGN OM SCREEN:
    Australian Jensen Plowright from and Alpecin-Deceuninck
    Denmark Joshua Gudnitz from Team ColoQuick
    Belgium Victor Vercouillie from Team Flanders-Baloise,
    Denmark Mads Andersen from AIRTOX–Carl Ras
    New Zealand George Jackson from Team Burgos-BH.

 

    • A MAP OF ROUTE FROM ROSKILDE TO COPENHAGEN – 235 KM FOR MEN (GREEN LINE)
      A MAP SHOWS THE RACE FIRST LED THROUGH FREDERIKSSUND, INTO THE NATIONAL PARK, AND PAST THE FAMOUS ROYAL PALACES AROUND HILLERØD. FROM THERE, IT CONTINUED TO THE COAST AT HUMLEBÆK, RETURNED TO HILLERØD, AND THEN SWEPT THROUGH THE SUBURBS OF COPENHAGEN 
    • AERIAL ROSKILDE CATHEDRAL
    • AERIAL VIKING SHIP “Havhingsten” – the world longest.  
    • SAILING BOAT WITH GREEN BIKE PRINTED IN SAIL
      Tekst: “ Alletiders Roskilde” (Translation: “All great Roskilde”)
    • CROWDS CHEERING AT Town Sprint 1 in Frederikssund town (WBD Eurosport)
      Five riders and Joshua Gudnitz from Team ColoQuick wins
    • The five break-out competing for points driving towards Fredensborg Palace  – Denmark´s Queen Margrethe II ’s private residence. Spring and autumn residence, beautifully located by Lake Esrum in North Zealand. Known for its elegant white façade and peaceful gardens,
      Fredensborg Palace is the Danish Royal Family’s spring and autumn residence, beautifully located by Lake Esrum in North Zealand. Known for its elegant wvevvhite façade and peaceful gardens, it is often used for royal events, state visits, and private family gatherings used for royal events, state visits, and private family gatherings. (WBD Eurosport)
    • The break-out drivers drive for points. Australian Jensen Plowright from and Alpecin-Deceuninck wins in a sprint in front of Denmarks Joshua Gudnitz from Team ColoQuic. (WBD Eurosport)
    • AERIAL FREDERIKSBORG CASTLE – 1600 (KP: 10. JUNE 2025)
      Frederiksborg Castle is a grand Renaissance palace located in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen. Built in the early 1600s by King Christian IV, it is surrounded by lakes and baroque gardens and today houses the Museum of National History, showcasing centuries of Danish royal heritage.
    • FOUR RIDERS IN COPENHAGEN, AT NØRREBROS RUNDDEL (WBD Eurosport)
    • PELETON CROSS QUEEN LOUISE’S BRIDGE – THE BUSIEST BICYCLE BRIDGE IN THE WORLD (WBD Eurosport) 
    • PELETON AT KGS HAVE , KINGS GARDEN (WBD Eurosport)
    • AERIAL COPENHAGEN AREA WITH NATIONAL GALLERY, ROSENBORG CASTLE.
      The National Gallery of Denmark.
      Denmark’s largest art museum, located in central Copenhagen, and houses a wide collection of Danish and international art from the Renaissance to contemporary works.
      Rosenborg Castle.
      It is a fairy-tale renaissance castle in the heart of Copenhagen early 1600s. It houses the Danish crown jewels. (WBD Eurosport)
    • MASSIVE CRASH IN THE PELOTON – 9.9 km /6.15 miles before the finish-line, At the National Gallery (WBD Eurosport)
    • AERIAL THE SPRINT START (WBD Eurosport)
    • SHARP CORNER AT SKT.HANS SQUARE, NØRREBRO (WBD Eurosport)
      The Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, known for its cafés, creative energy, and everyday city life.
    • FINAL SPRINT. A GROUP OF 16 AND MORE SPRINTS. (WBD Eurosport)
      WINNER JORDI MEEUS. BIKER RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE. BELGIUM.
  • SLOW MOTION WINNER JORDI MEEUS. BIKER RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE. BELGIUM. (WBD Eurosport)
  • SOUNDBITE Jordi Meeus. WINNER Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. Belgium CONT.:
    “I knew it was a headwind. I noticed it a couple of laps before, so yeah — I knew it was a matter of not being there too early. In the end, it was super hectic. And I think, if I could really have chosen, I would have liked a slightly better position in the last corner. But in the end, everything opened up, and I still had a good sprint in the legs.”
  • SOUNDBITE Jordi Meeus. WINNER Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. Belgium:
    “Yes ofcource I am super happy I was coming here in the last minute. And i am really happy, that I can go home with a win”.
  • CEREMONY ON STAGE WITH BELGIUM’S JORDI MEEUS FROM RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE, THE WINNER OF THE FIRST COPENHAGEN SPRINT.
    LEFT: ALEXIS RENARD OF COFIDIS (2ND PLACE)
     RIGHT: EMILIEN JEANNIÈRE FROM TEAM TOTALENERGIES (3RD PLACE)
    ALSO PRESENT: MINISTER MORTEN BØDSKOV, ATTENDING IN CONNECTION WITH THE CYCLING CONFERENCE (WBD Eurosport)
  • SIGN WITH TOP 10 RIDERS RESULT OF COPENHAGEN SPRINT  (WBD Eurosport)
  • SOUNDBITE Jordi Meeus. WINNER Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. Belgium.
    “It was really nice. From beginning to end, there were crowds lining the road. You can really tell that cycling lives here in Denmark. I was really happy to be part of this race — it was amazing to ride with so many people cheering all along the route.”
    (KP: 22. JUNE 2025)
  • SOUNDBITE Jordi Meeus. WINNER Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. Belgium cont.:
    “Yeah, it was really special, these last local laps, was really like you were riding into a tunnel of crowd, you could say. So it was super nice”.
    (KP: 22. JUNE 2025)
  • VOX-POP
     Michael Bjerring, spectator:
    “It’s amazing. It’s a nice little party. We have so many Danish riders that are great. So, you can hear the vibe, it’s beautiful. It’s like the Tour de France four years ago.” (red. it was 3 years ago).  
  • Anders Møller ( Indisk) (nr 2 svar:)
    “The atmosphere here is really great. A lot of people. A lot of happy people. It’s been wonderful”.  
  • GROUP OF MEN BICYCLE ENTHUSIATS DRINK AND CHEER  
  • TOTAL ICE CREAM WITH GREEN PISTACHIO NUTS  
  • CLOSE ICE CREAM WITH GREEN PISTACHIO NUTS WITH TEXT “Copenhagen Sprint” ON THE ICE LOLLY.  
  • AERIAL biker bridge –  The Circle Bridge by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.  (KP: 10. JUNE 2025)
  • AERIAL FLYING AWAY FROM QUEEN LOUISES BRIDGE   – the world most biked bridge.  (KP: 10. JUNE 2025)

End