"To beat Wout Van Aert is really nice... I'll put a photo on my wall" - Jensen Plowright's heartbreaking interview before result dramatically changed at Tour of Denmark
CyclingThursday, 30 July 2026 at 19:21
Jensen Plowright declared he could retire happy after he thought he had taken a sensational sprint victory at the Tour of Denmark on stage 2. Surging from several places behind with 200 meters to go, a last-ditch bike throw was initially thought to be enough to deny the Visma | Lease a Bike leader on Thursday evening.
However, upon closer inspection of the photo finish, the Alpecin - Premier Tech rider had finished mere fractions of a centimeter behind van Aert as organisers quickly postponed the podium ceremony and van Aert was later awarded the win and retained his blue jersey for the overall race lead.
In a controversial ending to the second stage, Plowright was left disappointed as the potential third win of his career was not to be, despite his incredibly strong sprint seeing him pass numerous riders in the finale.
In the aftermath, he initially celebrated the win as he reflected on an intense stage that saw crosswinds cause several splits in the peloton before a fast and furious finishing circuit saw it come down to a sprint.
With Unibet Rose Rockets leading through the final corner, it seemed like van Aert and Toon Aerts were contesting the win but for his late surge.
Tour of Denmark stage 2 photo finish
Plowright's interview after initially being declared winner
"It was actually super crazy and super fast. Lovely circuit, but yeah, super hectic on the way down. And yeah, I got a really nice run through the finish in the last 200 ," Plowright said immediately after the finish.
"It feels like a long time coming, but yeah, to beat Wout Van Aert is really nice. I'll put a photo on my wall, I think."
Thinking he had taken a remarkable win over one of the world's best riders, Plowright was understandably in good spirits, making his comments before the later decision heartbreaking with the aide of hindsight.
He added: "Yeah, I think I can retire now, so yeah, I'm happy. It's going to be nice confidence for the team, and we're going to really enjoy this one. And I think we'll have a nice week here.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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