From Bjarne Riis to Jonas Vingegaard - How does Denmark produce such talented cyclists?

Over the last 4 seasons Jonas Vingegaard has gone from being a relatively unknown rider to arguably one of the best climbers the peloton has ever seen. Yes, he may have lost his Tour de France title to Tadej Pogacar this year, but let’s not forget that if it wasn’t for the Dane, Pogacar would have won five Tours in a row by now.

But Vingegaard isn’t the only supremely talented Danish rider in the peloton. Mads Pedersen has been one of the most consistent names over the past few seasons, and he’s already got a world title and wins at all three grand tours to his name. Then there’s the 24 year old Mattias Skjelmose Jensen, who announced himself as a GC contender for the future by winning the young riders classification at the Vuelta in September.

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And there’s a whole host of more Danish talent coming on to the pro scene, in what could be a brilliant era for Danish cycling.

But one question lingers: How?

Seriously, how is it that the fourth flattest country in the world can not only produce such incredible cycling talent, but one of the best climbers we have ever seen. Riders from Belgium and Netherlands also come from extremely flat countries, but their love affair with cycling is very well documented. But Denmark? That isn’t so clear, so lets take a look at why this country has climbed up the ranks.

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Cycling culture in Denmark

At a very basic level, Denmark’s ability to produce world class cycling talent can largely be attributed to its deeply embedded cycling culture. Cycling is not merely a sport or a pastime in Denmark, it is an essential part of daily life that shapes the country's infrastructure, lifestyle, and athletic development. Anyone that’s been to Copenhagen will be familiar with the amount of bikes roaming the streets, and this may be the first indicator of how they create their talent.

This deep-rooted connection with cycling begins at an early age and extends to all corners of Danish society. Lets not forget that Denmark are by no means a new edition to the cycling elite, as Slovenian is thanks to Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic. No, Denmark has a long history of producing elite riders, like their first ever Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis or Willy Hansen who was an Olympic gold medal winning track cyclist.

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One of the most striking aspects of Danish cycling culture is the sheer amount of bikes on each an every street. In Copenhagen, often hailed as the world's most bicycle-friendly city, over 50% of residents commute by bike daily. The city boasts more bicycles than cars, with an impressive network of cycling infrastructure that includes designated cycling lanes, priority traffic lights, and biking bridges such as the Cykelslangen (Cycle Snak"). This makes cycling not only a convenient mode of transportation but also a normalised and enjoyable activity for all age groups, which would be practically impossible around the streets of London or New York.

Children in Denmark typically start riding bikes at a very young age. This early exposure to cycling allows potentially talented children to build the foundation and habits for future athletic development, developing the skills, coordination, and love for being active outdoors. In fact, some schools integrate cycling into physical education and extracurricular programs, which is pretty much unheard of in schools in the United Kingdom.

Jonas Vingegaard's rivalry with Tadej Pogacar is already legendary

The consistent use of bikes for transport contributes significantly to the physical conditioning of young Danes. By the time they reach an age where they might consider competitive cycling, they have often already accumulated thousands of kilometres on two wheels, albeit in a non-competitive context. The ingrained habit of cycling prepares the body for endurance and adaptability, key characteristics of successful riders in the professional peloton.

Beyond the physical benefits, the cultural and social aspects of cycling in Denmark cannot be overlooked. The Danish approach to cycling emphasises community and inclusivity, with a broad range of cycling clubs spread throughout the country. These clubs cater to all levels, from casual weekend riders to serious amateur racers, providing a pathway for young talent to develop their skills in a structured environment. This network of clubs is of course a way for young riders to create communities, but they also work as a scouting ground for teams to try and secure the next Jonas Vingegaard or Mads Pedersen.

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Crucially, Danish cycling culture is supported by significant government investment in promoting and maintaining bike-friendly infrastructure. Denmark's government put a lot of emphasis on encouraging sustainable transport, aligning with their big national push to reduce carbon emissions and promote health. Such investments make cycling an attractive and practical choice, which further solidifies its presence in the culture of young Danes.

Events like the annual PostNord Danmark Rundt (Tour of Denmark) also have a role in introducing local talent to the competitive scene. The race travels across the scenic landscapes of Denmark, trying its best to avoid the rain, offering a platform for homegrown riders to compete against international names. The exposure and experience gained from such events often act as a springboard for Danish cyclists aiming to break into the professional scene, in their hopes of becoming the next star on the World Tour.

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On paper, Denmark’s pancake flat terrain does not seem ideal for producing top-tier climbers, but it is the combination of widespread cycling accessibility, a supportive infrastructure, early engagement, and a culture that values active lifestyles that helps create world class cyclists. This unique blend of factors not only explains the emergence of Vingegaard and his peers but signals that Denmark’s impact on the pro cycling world is only set to grow.

Is Jonas Vingegaard extra special?

In short, yes, Jonas Vingeagaard is super human. It’s been reported that his V02 max could be as high as 97ml of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. For those that aren’t familiar with V02 max, that’s one of the highest levels ever recorded. For reference, the average V02 max in a healthy male is around 40ml, and Tadej Pogacar’s is reported to ‘only’ be 89ml. Most Tour de France riders have a V02 max of somewhere between 70 and 85, which just goes to show just how elite Vingegaard’s genetics are.

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This is certainly one of the reasons why the two time Tour de France champion excels on the longer, gradual, brutal climbs. One things for sure, these sort of climbs don’t exist in Denmark, and so he certainly didn’t master his climbing endurance on home roads.

The Col de la Loze is renowned has one of the toughest climbs in the Tour de France, on probably the terrain most different to that of Denmark, in Europe. Not only is the terrain brutal, but the weather when the peloton takes it on during the Tour is scorching hot, something riders from Denmark can’t be used to either. Yet that climb was the scene of possibly Vingegaard’s most destructive performance ever, when he completely buried Tadej Pogacar to effectively win the 2023 Tour de France.

There's no denying that Denmark are one of the very best cycling nations. Whilst they don’t have the ideal terrain for producing climbing greatness, their rich cycling culture and generally fitness based attitude is why we keep seeing Dane’s flying up the hardest climbs on the world tour.

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