PostNord Danmark Rundt (Tour of Denmark)

(Photos: ©René Vigneron)

Race: Tour of Denmark, Stage 1

Start/Finish: Herning/Esbjerg, Denmark

Distance: 200 kilometers

Esbjerg, Denmark — The Tour of Denmark kicked off on Wednesday with the longest day of the five-day stage race at 200 kilometers. Despite threatening clouds, the day remained relatively dry. A four-man break escaped early into the day but the narrow, one-lane Kammerslusen Bridge ended up being a major deciding factor on the day. A crash caused the race to splinter and a new front group set off. Eventually, Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) set off solo from this group and held on to take the win.  

“Today was my first day back after my crash at the Tour de Pologne and I could definitely still feel the effects of the crash,” David Lozano said. “It was a tough day on the bike and the bridge ended up making the day. We had good position and a few of the guys were feeling strong up to that point but if you weren’t in the first few riders, it meant basically the end of your day.” 

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing on Thursday with Stage 2 of the Tour of Denmark. The 178-km stage begins in Romo and features two intermediate sprints and one categorized climb before a straight, uphill finish in Sonderborg.

Gallery:

Results: 

• 1^st: Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff)
• 2^nd: Mads Wurtz Schmitz (Virtu Pro Veloconcept): 0:03 behind Bennati
• 3^rd: Moreno Hofland (Team LottoNL-Jumbo): 0:16 behind Bennati

Team Novo Nordisk Results to follow.

(Photos: ©Lars Rønbøg)

(Photos: ©René Vigneron)

Race: Tour of Denmark, PostNord Danmark Rundt, Stage 2

Start/Finish: Viborg/Vejle, Denmark

Distance: 172 kilometers

Vejle, Denmark —Team Novo Nordisk celebrated the PostNord Danmark Rundt queen stage by honoring 13-year-old Dane Thea Guldager as ”pro cyclist for the day” in thanks for her years of support.

Stage 2 began in Viborg and the day saw a high of nearly 28C. The first 10 kilometers on the 172-km stage started with a flurry of attacks, and when the race reached a small kicker, Chris Anker Sørensen (Riwal) and four other riders escaped.

The five-man group worked well until it reached the 5.7-km finishing circuit around Vejle with Anker Sørensen setting off solo. He was reeled in and with riders immediately launching counterattacks for the three finishing laps. On the final lap, Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) and Julius Johansen (ColoQuick) battled it around the hilly course, but Wout van Aert (Vérandas Willems-Crelan) powered past the duo at the line and took the win and the overall leader’s jersey.

The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team continues racing at the PostNord Danmark Rundt on Friday with a 178.4-km stage that begins in Naestved and ends with three 5.4-km laps in Vordingborg.

Fabio Calabria

“I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 13—the same age Thea is today–and if I could have had role models like this team to look up to, it would have made things so much easier. I was fortunate that I had an excellent doctor, but I felt like I was dealing with uncharted territories at the time. Getting to see other people living and competing with diabetes so successfully would have given me a lot of encouragement in those early days.” 

Gallery:

Results: 

1^st: Wout Van Aert (Vérandas Willems-Crelan): 4:13:51

2^nd: Alexander Kamp (Team Waoo): 0:02 behind Van Aert

3^rd: Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling): 0:04 behind Van Aert

(Photos: ©René Vigneron) 

(Photos: ©René Vigneron / Henriette S, Brandt)

Race: Tour of Denmark, PostNord Danmark Rundt, Stage 3

Start/Finish: Naestved/ Vordingbord, Denmark

Distance: 178.4 kilometers

Vordingbord, Denmark — Team Novo Nordisk’s Charles Planet (FRA) shined in the PostNord Danmark Rundt Stage 3 breakaway, taking maximum points in the hill classification, winning the first intermediate sprint and being runner-up through the second one. The standout ride earned the 24-year-old Frenchman the Julemaerkefonden Fighter Jersey.
Friday’s Stage 3 of PostNord Danmark Rundt saw the peloton tackle a 178.4-kilometer race from Naestved to Vordingbord. Riders attacked from kilometer zero and Planet grabbed a wheel. The five-man group worked well together and earned a maximum gap of 5:15.

With 60 km remaining, Rally Cycling launched an attack from the peloton. Robin Carpenter, who is third overall in the race, and Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy) started to chase down Planet’s group, but they were never able to close the gap. After they were reeled in, the peloton worked to bring in the escapees, but the five riders reached the finishing laps with a 30-second gap. They held off the chasing peloton until the final lap.

A bunch sprint ensued with Tim Merlier (Verandas Willems-Crelan) taking the win.

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing on Saturday with Stage 4 of the Tour of Denmark. The 19.1-km individual time trial starts and finishes in Nykobing Falster.

Charles Planet

“This jersey is for my parents, especially my mother. She was the true fighter during my childhood after I was diagnosed with diabetes. My family taught me to be a fighter, and I’m so proud to earn this jersey and show my true character. This podium and jersey are so much bigger than me. I can’t put into words how much I wish this team existed when I was a teenager. It would have given me so much hope knowing that I could believe in myself. I hope everyone with diabetes sees this jersey and knows it is for all of us. Together, we are fighters.”

Gallery:

Results: 

1^st: Tim Merlier (Verandas Willems-Crelan): 4:08:46

2^nd: Riccardo Minali (Astana Pro Team): same time as Merlier

3^rd: Andrea Guardini (Bardini-CSF): same time as Merlier

18th: Andrea Peron: same time as Merlier

(Photos: ©René Vigneron/ Henriette S, Brandt)

(Photos: ©René Vigneron)

Race: Tour of Denmark, PostNord Danmark Rundt, Stage 4

Start/Finish: Nykobing Falster / Nykobing Falster, Denmark

Distance: 19.1 kilometers

Nykobing Falster, Denmark — Saturday’s individual time trial was a 19.1-kilometer race around the picturesque waterfront city of Nykobing. Team Novo Nordisk’s riders tackled the race against the clock on their Colnago K-Zeros under blue skies and gusting winds.

Mads Pedersen (Team PostNord Denmark) laid down the fastest time in 21:52. Team Novo Nordisk’s Chris Williams was the team’s best-placed rider finishing 2:56 behind Pedersen. Wout Van Aert (Veranda’s Willems – Crelan) took second on the stage to extend his overall race lead heading into Copenhagen.

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, concludes racing at the PostNord Danmark Rundt with Sunday’s final stage. Stage 5 is a 198.8-km race that begins in Faxe and concludes with ten 6.75-km laps around Frederiksberg.

Following a standout day in the breakaway on Stage 3, Team Novo Nordisk’s Charles Planet goes into the final stage still in contention for the race’s hill competition jersey. He is 24 points behind current leader Nicolai Brochner (Holowesko-Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources) and the stage includes four categorized climbs.

Chris Williams

“The wind played a bigger role out on course than I expected during recon. It was a tailwind at the start, after about 10 kilometers, it switched to a crosswind and the finish was a complete headwind.”

Gallery:

Results: 

1^st: Mads Pedersen (Team PostNord Denmark): 21:52

2^nd: Wout Van Aert (Veranda’s Willems – Crelan): 0:07 behind Pedersen

3^rd: Martin Toft Madsen (BHS-Almeborg Bornhold): 0:10 behind Pedersen

73rd: Chris Williams: 2:56 behind Pedersen

(Photos: ©René Vigneron)

Race: Tour of Denmark, PostNord Danmark Rundt, Stage 5

Start/Finish: Faxe / Frederiksberg, Denmark

Distance: 199 kilometers

Frederiksberg, Denmark — The five-day PostNord concluded on Sunday with a 199-kilometer race beginning in Faxe and finishing with 10 laps around Frederiksberg. Team Novo Nordisk’s Charles Planet featured in the day’s main breakaway.

Following a standout performance on Stage 3 that saw Planet earn the PostNord Danmark RundtJulemaerkefonden Fighter’s jersey, the Frenchman remained in the running for the king of the mountains jersey, so the team’s primary strategy was to place him into the break.

From the start, nerves were high as other jerseys were still on the line. An initial break escaped, and when several riders bridged, Planet jumped on their wheels and made it up to the break. He earned several points on the climbs and finished the race second overall in the hill competition.

Strong cross and tailwinds affected the race and saw the peloton splinter into echelons before reaching the finishing circuits. Planet’s eight-man group was reeled in as the race reached Frederiksberg and Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue Sport) attacked and a new five-man break formed.

Pedersen dropped his breakaway companions and set off solo, but the Dane was caught with four kilometers to go. A bunch sprint ensued, and Tim Merlier (Vérandas Willems-Crelan) took the win while teammate Wout Van Aert won the overall race.

The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team continues racing at the eight-day Tour du Rwanda on Monday. Stage 2 is a 120.3-km race that begins in Kigali and finishes in Huye.

Charles Planet

“I’m happy with my performance and my fight throughout the whole race. I feel I’ve proven that you can never give up. The first two stages weren’t my best, but I remained focus and came out with a podium and a strong race.

I wanted to get in today’s break so much that it definitely added to my nerves at the start. The winds were crazy and riders were fighting hard to make the break. I saw some guys trying to bridge while others riders were closing the road, so I knew I had to go. I made it and I was really happy to be up there again.

Then I focused on fighting for hill points and also to be the day’s most combative rider again, but unfortunately, the wind was too strong and the peloton caught us before the finishing laps. “

Gallery:

Results: 

1^st: Tim Merlier (Vérandas Willems-Crelan): 4:18:13

2^nd: Max Kanter (Team Sunweb): same time as Merlier

3^rd: Shane Archbold (Aqua Blue Sport): same time as Merlier

22nd: Andrea Peron: same time as Merlier

(Photos: ©René Vigneron)