copenhagen tour de france route

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Explore the Tour de France route in Copenhagen

See the route of the Tour de France Grand Départ and get inspired to jump in the saddle yourself. The route takes the world's best riders (and you) by some amazing sights here in the world's best bike city.

From the starting point on the corner of H.C. Andersens Boulevard and Nørre Farimagsgade, the beautiful route passes by these Copenhagen highlights on July 1. 2022. More info on  letourcph.dk .

Dronning Louises Bro

This is the world’s busiest bicycle street!  The bridge connects the city centre with the buzzing  Nørrebro  area, and is also a popular hangout spot, especially on sunny days.

Maersk Tower

An amazing work of architecture with its zig-zagging park path on ground level and iconic shape raising above the neighbourhood. The tower is open to the public with unparalleled views of Copenhagen.

The Gefion Fountain by The Citadel

Since 1626 The Citadel has housed military barracks and offices, but today the area is open to the public and a favourite green lung for a brisk walk or jog on the ramparts and the beautiful Gefion fountain.

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace is of course a must for anyone with a taste for royal history and the life of Denmark’s royal family who still resides inside the palace.

The Marble Church

The awe-inspiring Marble Church with the characteristic copper green dome has to be one of the most impressive churches of the city - and is definitely home to one of the best views in town.

King's New Square

Kongens Nytorv is a central and historic square and home to prominent institutions such as the Royal Theatre, Hotel D'Angleterre and the Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

The old stock exchange (Børsen)

The Old Stock Exchange dates back to 1625 and is one of the oldest buildings in Copenhagen, located by the picturesque Holmens Canal in the historic city centre.  

The Royal Danish Library - The Black Diamond

The Black Diamond in Copenhagen was finished in 1999 and is an extension to the Royal Library. The building's shiny, black facede has become an architectural icon, and the interior will leave you in awe. 

Tivoli Gardens

The historic city centre amusement park dates all the way back to 1843 and has enchanted Copenhageners and visitors ever since. Including Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney.

City Hall Square

The main square is where Copenhageners gather for public celebrations, demonstrations, concerts … and to watch the riders cross the finish line. 

Watch the route of the Tour de France in Copenhagen, 2022

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Tour de France 2022 Stage 1 profile and route map: Copenhagen – Copenhagen

This pan-flat opening time trial doesn’t rise higher than 15 metres above sea level although it has no fewer than 23 tight turns packed into just over 13km of riding in the centre of the Danish capital. Stream the Tour de France live and on-demand on discovery+. You can also watch all the action live on eurosport.co.uk.

Tour de France 2022 Route stage 1: Copenhagen - Copenhagen

Ten years ago the Grande Partenza of the Giro d’Italia was in Denmark and now it’s time for the biggest cycling race in the world, La Grande Boucle. The place of action is different though. The Giro began with an ITT in Herning, on the other side of the country. Taylor Phinney took the spoils ahead of Geraint Thomas and homerider Alex Rasmussen.

The Copenhagen opener is an individual time trial in front of roaring city crowds. Kasper Asgreen, Mads Pedersen and Magnus Cort will be especially eager to win the race and take the first yellow jersey.

The route is flat and rather technical. There is only one intermediate time check – at kilometre 6.6.

Originally, the 2021 Tour would have kicked off in Denmark, but a combination of COVID-19 and the European Football Championships forced the organisation to develop a different scenario. Last year’s Grand Depart took place in Brittanny and Julian Alaphilippe climbed to victory on the punchy Côte de la Fosse aux Loups in Landerneau.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 1 Tour de France .

Another interesting read: results 1st stage 2022 Tour de france.

Tour de France 2022 stage 1: routes, profiles, more

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Tour de CPH 2022 - get close to the first stage

Le grand départ on the 1st of july 2022.

This year's Tour de France starts in the best biking city of the world, Copenhagen! It will without a doubt be the city's wildest event of the year, where bike riders will fight for the first stage victory.

Now is your chance to get real close when the world’s best riders take on the streets of Copenhagen in a fight for the yellow jersey. The route will also pass H.C. Andersens Boulevard just by our hostel. So book accommodation with us on the 1st of July and get the opportunity to have a view over the route and just a few minutes walk from the lookouts. But  hurry up and book a room right away - accommodation is in great demand!

We look forward to welcoming you!

Activities all summer

At our hostel we have arranged plenty of activities all summer in connection with the Tour de France. For example, we are raising money for Børnecancefonden (Children's Cancer Foundation) by letting our guests cycle for a cause right in the middel of our lobby. Furthermore, you can watch the entire Tour de France live on our TV screens in our café where you can also enjoy our Stage Offers. Our outside bar is also open!

This summer will also be filled with acitivites for kids as well as competitions where you can win lovely prizes. We also recommend our cycling guests to try the Tour de France route themselves - this is possible on the 2nd of July.

Vive le tour!

Cycle for a cause - support the Danish Children's Cancer Foundation ❤

During the Tour de France in CPH, we have decided to bring focus to a good cause combined with cycling and exercise. So, feel free to jump on our two exercise bikes in the lobby to cycle for a cause.

When cycling on the two bikes in our lobby, you automatically help support Børnecancefonden (The Children's Cancer Foundation). For every kilometre you bike, we donate 1 Danish Krone. The money raised will in full go to Børnecancerfonden .

The event will set in motion in week 23 and run until Sunday 24th of July 2022.

You also have the opportunity to support the cause yourself by donating via the Danish MobilePay to no. 603735.

We thank Fitness Engros, Copenhagen Bicycles, HelpWater, Danhostel, Steca and Red Bull for cooperating with us on this event.

Tour de KBH - Put on your yellow jersey and try cycling the first Stage

On the 2nd of July from 9-12 o'clock, you get the opportunity to try the first stage on your own bike. The same route as the Tour de France bikers have ridden the day before. The route is 13 km long and has 12 hop on/off places from where you can join the route.

There is no required registration - and it's free of charge - everyone is welcome.

Read more here

Need a bike?

If you want to try the first stage but need a bike, you need not to worry. You can rent one of our bikes. Just ask at the reception, and we will find you a bike at the cost of DKK 120.

Enjoy the ride!

The route: First stage time trial

The route is 13 km long and flat, and the bikers can gain full speed in the broad streets of Copenhagen as there are no sharp turns. The goal for the riders in this stage is without a doubt to limit the time loss.

The route starts at Nørre Farimagsgade by Ørstedsparken and continues through the city passing iconic landmarks such as The Little Mermaid,  Amalienborg, Queen Louise's Bridge, The Lakes, Parken Stadium, Nyhavn, Kastellet (the citadel), The Marble Church of Copenhagen and many more. The stage finishes at the City Hall Square, close to our hostel.

The first stage is expected to start around 16:00 and last for about 3-4 hours. There will also be caravans and other vehicles on the route, so there will be plenty of experiences throughout the day.

Read more about the route and Le Grand Départ here

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Udforsk Tour de France ruten i København

Oplev ruten for Tour de France Grand Départ og blive inspireret til selv at hoppe på cyklen. Ruten tager verdens bedste cykelryttere (og dig) forbi nogle fantastiske seværdigheder her i verdens bedste cykel by.

Fra starten på hjørnet af H.C. Andersens Boulevard of Nørre Farimagsgade, fortsætter den flotte rute forbi disse København seværdigheder, d. 1. juli 2022. Få mere information på  letourcph.dk .

Dronning Louises Bro

Dronning Louises Bro forbinder indre by og Nørrebro og befærdes dagligt af cyklister og fodgængere i massevis. Broen er dog også blevet et populært sted at hænge ud.

Mærsk Tårnet

Mærsk Tårnet er en del af Københavns Universitet, og det huser dele af Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet. Tårnet er bygget med fokus på bæredygtige løsninger, eksempelvis inden for genanvendelse af regnvand og energieffektive laboratorier.

Gefionspringvandet

Gefionspringvandet er et værk af den danske billedhugger Anders Bundgaard fra 1908, placeret for enden af Amaliegade over for Kastellet. Det er forbundet med Langelinie via Gefionbroen.

Amalienborg Slot

Amalienborg er et must for alle med interesse i vores royale historie og de kongeliges liv, som i dag stadig leves i paladset.

Frederiks kirke, Marmorkirken

Med dens karakteristiske kobbergrønne kuppel og flotte marmor, må Frederiks Kirke (Marmorkirken) være en af de mest imponerende kirker i byen. 

Kongens Nytorv

Det smukke, gamle torv huser flere prominente institutioner så som Det Kongelige Teater, Hotel D'Angleterre og Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

Børsen stod færdig med spir i 1625 og er dermed et af Københavns ældste huse.

Det Kgl. Bibliotek – Den Sorte Diamant

Den Sorte Diamant er bygget sammen med den historiske biblioteksbygning fra 1906, og er tegnet af det anerkendte danske arkitektfirma Schmidt Hammer & Lassen Architects. De skrånende, blanke ydervægge, der har gjort bygningen til en af byens mest genkendelige

Tivoli er et overflødighedshorn af oplevelser, fra vilde forlystelser til gode middage og store koncerter, og et must for alle, der besøger København.

Rådhuspladsen

Én af byens centrale pladser, forbundet til byens anden store plads, Kongens Nytorv, ved fodgængergaden Strøget.

Se Tour de France ruten i København 2022

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1st stage: Time trial in Copenhagen

The Tour de France Grand Départ in Copenhagen is a 13 km Time Trial on Friday 1 July, which will significantly affect traffic and parking conditions in and around Copenhagen from Monday 27 June at 8 pm to Saturday 2 July at 4 pm, while a smaller part of H.C. Andersens Boulevard will be closed until Monday 4 July at 5 am.

The course itself will be closed for traffic from Friday 1 July at 1 am to Saturday 2 July at 4 pm. In addition, other major roads will be blocked during the week, including large sections of H.C. Andersens Boulevard gradually from Monday 27 June at 8 pm.

From Thursday 30 June at 9 am there will be a comprehensive ban on stopping and parking on and around the entire course. In some places the bans will be effected earlier.

The traffic in the city is expected to be back to normal on Saturday 2 July at 4 pm, however, with the exception of H.C. Andersens Boulevard, which will not be fully open for traffic before Monday 4 July at 5 am.

Choose public transport and plan your journey in advance

Spectators and Tour fans as well as commuters and local citizens are recommended to travel by public transport, such as regional train, S-train or Metro, to experience the Tour de France stage in Copenhagen or to get around in the Copenhagen area during the Tour de France.

Explore your options for travelling with public transportation to the Danish stages of the Tour de France at www.transporttiltouren.dk/en and plan your journey in the Copenhagen area in general at www.journeyplanner.dk

It will not be possible to drive or park cars or camper vans in Copenhagen on Friday, July 1 st  and Saturday, July 2 nd .

See below for more information on how to get around in Copenhagen.

Road blocks and parking bans

From Monday, June 27, 8:00 pm the main thoroughfare, H.C. Andersens Boulevard, and other surrounding roads in Inner City are blocked to traffic. Footways and bicycle lanes are open but there is no crossing through fenced off traffic lanes. 

From Thursday, June 30 th , 09:00 am there is no stopping or parking on the entire course, and illegally-parked vehicles will be removed at owner’s expense. From Friday, July 1 st , 01:00 am the entire course is closed to all traffic.

Any unnecessary driving within and across the course should be avoided. For urgent cases, the bridge “Knippelsbro” is open along with 5 temporary vehicle crossing points. However, these will be entirely closed Friday July 1 st between 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm and Saturday July 2 nd between 07:30 am and 12:30 pm.

All road blocks, parking bans and other traffic restrictions are lifted from Saturday, July 2 nd , 4:00 pm.

Please note! Heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are banned from Inner City between Friday July 1 st , 01:00 am and Saturday July 2 nd 6:00 pm.   

Getting around by foot

On Friday 1 st during the Tour de France stage it is recommended to get around by foot in the city center of Copenhagen. There are 24 crossing points where pedestrians can cross the course except when the Tour de France riders and team cars are coming through. This means that between 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm the crossing points will be alternately opened and closed to allow for pedestrian crossing. Metro or S-train are good alternatives if you need to cross the course.

Getting around by bicycle

Bicyclists should expect all central parts of Copenhagen and areas close the course to be extremely crowded, as thousands of Tour fans will be visiting Copenhagen to experience the first Tour de France stage. 

Therefore, on Friday July 1 st it will not be possible to ride your bicycle anywhere close to the course. If you need to get through Copenhagen on your bicycle, be aware that there are only very few crossing points on the course. Make sure to plan an alternative route in advance on the interactive map .

More information

For questions about traffic, road blocks and parking in Copenhagen, please e-mail to [email protected]

*In an earlier version of this site the text said that H.C. Andersens Boulevard will be closed for traffic from Tuesday the 28th of June 6.00pm. This has changed so the street now will be closed for traffic from Monday the 27th of June 8pm instead.

Subject to change. Last updated on the 8 of June.

Public transport

How will tour de france affect the traffic in copenhagen.

The Tour de France in Copenhagen is a 13 km Individual Time Trial on the 1st of July, which will affect the traffic and parking conditions significantly from Tuesday the 28th of June at 18:00 to saturday July 2nd at 16:00. 

The course will be closed for traffic, stopping and parking from Friday the 1st of July at 01:00 to Saturday July 2nd at 16:00. Other central roads will also be closed during the week, including big parts of H.C. Andersens Boulevard from Monday the 27th of June at 18:00. It will also be prohibited to stop and park on and around the course. The traffic in the city is expected to be back to normal on Saturday July 2nd at 16:00.

How will the bike traffic be affected in Copenhagen?

You will be able to bike around Copenhagen but the area around the course will be difficult to access on bike especially Friday, but also on Saturday in relation to Tour de CPH. Cyclist must expect detours in connection with roadblocks and longer transport times due to the many tourists and spectators in the city.    Friday and Saturday the 1st to 2nd of July, while the race will take place (the 1st stage and Tour de CPH), it will not be possible to cycle or park on/along the course. Along the route there will be made app. 24 passages, where the route can be crossed by foot. Here it will also be possible to drag your bike. Permanent bike- and pedestrian tunnels and bridges will also be a way to cross the course.   The other days leading up to the 1st stage and Tour de CPH, where the start and finish area around H.C. Andersens Boulevard and the city hall square also will be closed (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 28th to 30th of June), it will be possible to cross H.C. Andersens Boulevard at selected places ( see the interactive map ), as well as cycling along the closed area, since it is only the roads that will be closed off.

When does the 1st stage of the Danish Grand Départ start?

On the 1st stage the first rider will start the course at 16:00 o'clock. The last rider is expected to cross the finish line at 19:00 o'clock. These are expected times. Before the riders there will be a publicity caravane and other vehicles on the course, so there will be much more than the professional riders for spectators to see. Find the time table for the 1st stage here.

Where do I park my car during Tour de France?

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TOTAL: 3492 km

This will be the first Grand Départ in Italy and the 26th that’s taken place abroad  First finale in Nice. Due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place in Paris, the race will not finish in the French capital for the first time.

Two time trials. 25 + 34 = 59km in total, the second of them taking place on the final Monaco>Nice stage. This will be the first time the race has seen a finale of this type for 35 years, the last occasion being the famous Fignon - LeMond duel in 1989.

Apennines (Italy), the Italian and French Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees will be the mountain ranges on the 2024 Tour route.

The number of countries visited in 2024: Italy, San Marino, Monaco and France. Within France, the race will pass through 7 Regions and 30 departments.

The number of bonus points 8, 5 and 2 bonus seconds go to the first three classified riders, featuring at strategic points along the route (subject to approval by the International Cycling Union)these will have no effect on the points classification. Bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds will be awarded to the first three classified riders at road stage finishes.

Out of a total of 39, the locations or stage towns that are appearing on the Tour map for the first time . In order of appearance: Florence, Rimini, Cesenatico, Bologna, Piacenza, Saint-Vulbas, Gevrey-Chambertin, Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, Évaux-les-Bains, Gruissan, Superdévoluy, Col de la Couillole.

The number of sectors on white roads during stage nine, amounting to 32km in total .

The number of stages: 8 flat, 4 hilly, 7 mountain (with 4 summit finishes at Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000, Col de la Couillole), 2 time trials and 2 rest days.

The number of riders who will line up at the start of the Tour, divided into 22 teams of 8 riders each.

The height of the summit of the Bonette pass in the Alps, the highest tarmac road in France, which will be the “roof” of the 2024 Tour.

The total vertical gain during the 2024 Tour de France.

PRIZE MONEY

A total of 2,3 million euros will be awarded to the teams and riders including € 500,000 to the final winner of the overall individual classification .

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100 days from today: The Tour de France Grand Depart in Copenhagen

On 23 March, Copenhagen marks the official countdown to hosting the Tour de France Grand Depart 2022 by unveiling an official countdown timer on its City Hall Square. And while the clock starts ticking, the world's top cycling city is busy making the huge Summer event accessible for all.

Put on a helmet and jump on a bike, just like the locals do. Criss-cross the city on curb-separated bicycle lanes, car-free bike bridges, and broad cycle-superhighways and look at how Copenhagen became a top cycling destination (and why it should be on everyone’s travel list in 2022!).

Guests from near and far can expect a summer filled with fun and festivity in Copenhagen, as the prestigious Tour de France bike race kicks off in the city on 1 July 2022. The city, ranked the world’s most bike-friendly, is using the occasion to celebrate its unique cycling culture and to showcase how guests can explore the city’s showstopping sights, top attractions, and cool neighborhoods on two wheels. 

Things to do

Among the many things to see and do in Copenhagen this summer, some related to the actual sporting event, others part of the destination’s multitude of great experiences, are:

• On 2 July, bw. 9-12 am, the official 13km start-trail in Copenhagen is open for all to try by bike – so off you go on your own ‘Tour De Copenhagen’
• The FestiVélo in Fælledparken (Copenhagen’s largest park) greets guests for some fun-packed days on 1-2 July. Dressed in yellow, the free of charge bicycle festival takes its point of departure in the Tour de France Grand Depart and involves lots of music, entertainment and talks, an exhibition on ‘The Tour and The Bike-City’, exercise-related bike activities, street sport, food & beverage outlets, a huge screen broadcasting the Grand Depart, and much more.
• Fælledparken is also home to the Children’s Traffic Playground , where junior children can have fun whilst learning about road safety.
• The FestiVélo at Fælledparken finishes off with an AfterTour concert on the eve of 2 July.
• A Tour de France Fan-park is located on the historic central square Kongens Nytorv and is open on 29 June and 1 July.
• Fan spots with large outdoor screens are also available on 1-3 July at Søren Kierkegaards Plads, next to the iconic ‘Black Diamond’ Royal Library on the Copenhagen waterfront, and at Den Røde Plads, part of Superkilen in the trendy Nørrebro neighbourhood
• The shoreline at The Little Mermaid statue on Langelinie will be covered in yellow flowers during the Grand Depart, as will the flower beds along Copenhagen City Hall .
• Even the city’s rubbish bins will be covered with yellow foil and the wording ‘Merci’, signaling the city’s strong focus on sustainable solutions .
• The world-famous Tivoli Gardens is open as usual, additionally it plays host to the presentation  of  22 Tour de France teams, 176 world-class riders on its lawn on 29 June 
• Tivoli Gardens is also planning on creating a 10m tall copy of the Eiffel Tower in front of the Nimb Hotel.   
• BLOX , home to businesses within architecture, design, and sustainable urban development and to the Danish Architecture Center , is hosting a national Bicycle Top Meeting on 31 June
• Copenhagen’s scenic bike bridges and harbour front are perfect for experiencing historic sites and local hoods on two wheels. Take a stop and go swimming, kayaking, or rowing in a GoBoat while you’re at it; the water is clean and the harbor basin is a favorite cultural and creative space for locals and travelers.

Bonus tip:   visitcopenhagen.com offers guests to the city heaps of useful information on Biking in Copenhagen , including great tips on where to rent a bike, bike routes, and bike tours.

Photo : Troels Heien

Places to eat

To add some great food experiences along the Tour de France route in Copenhagen, check out the below recommendations:

• Dine at two of the best restaurants in the world: Geranium and Noma . Iconic local restaurant Noma came in first place on the prestigious ‘50 Best Restaurants in the World’ list in 2021, while Geranium took second place. Both Copenhagen restaurants are also awarded 3 Michelin stars.
• Combine fine dining with down-to-earth street food and explore the Reffen, one of the largest street food markets in Europe. Alternatively, take a gastronomic journey through seven different cuisines at Seaside Toldboden  – from where you will almost be able to touch the Tour De France athletes sprinting by - or opt for noma's popular burger at POPL. All of these restaurants are located on the Copenhagen waterfront, close to the Grand Départ route.
• Sustainability is also a core element in Copenhagen's gastronomic DNA. Restaurants such as Øens Have , Lola , and Bistro Lupa – all of which are located along the Grand Départ route - are famous for their focus on sustainability and social responsibility.
• Some Copenhagen food and drink brands - Mikkeller , Coffee Collective , and Vin Supernaturel - have their own cycling club where they combine beer, coffee, and wine with cycling and for travelers to combine these things in moderate quantities. 
• At the final part of the Copenhagen stage, don't forget the local bakeries. With Umiddelbar and Hart Brød + Bar opening along the tour route, grab a dessert on the go.

Get more on how to experience Copenhagen by bike before, during, and after the Tour de France Grand Depart, great shooting locations, and creative cycling initiatives right here

Get the official Tour de France Grand Depart media kit here  and visit the official tour site here

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Grand Départ

Europe's most bike-friendly nation.

With a network of national cycle routes spanning 4,770 kilometers and a strong cycling culture come rain or shine, Denmark is Europe’s most bike-friendly nation. We were delighted to host the start of the world’s most prestigious cycling race in 2022. The Tour de France Grand Départ rolled through some of Denmark’s most historic cities, beautiful landscapes and past breathtaking architecture. 

Scroll on to find press kits and all you need to know about the places along the route . 

Find facts and figures on cycling in Denmark here . 

Press releases

The Tour de France for Foodies: work up an appetite along the world-famous cycling route

Discover the top foodie experiences along the Danish section of the Tour de France route this year, guaranteed to make even the most dedicated cyclist take a detour. 

Every day's a bike day: 10 things you didn’t know about Danes and their bikes

Denmark, one of the world’s greatest cycling countries, will host the world’s greatest cycling race, the Tour de France, at the start of July.

Cycling in the slipstream of Jonas Vingegaard in Denmark

Test your cycling skills by following the tyreprints of the Danish Tour de France-winning cyclist around his home region of North Jutland.

Voted World's Best Cycling City in 2019, Copenhagen was the first stop on the route, showcasing Amalienborg Castle, the Little Mermaid, parks, waterfront scenes and more. 

See Copenhagen press kit here  

Explore cycling in Copenhagen

A historic start in front of Roskilde Cathedral, a windswept sprint across the Great Belt Bridge and a spectacular finish in Nyborg. Just wow. 

Download Roskilde presskit here  

Download Nyborg presskit here

Full speed in Roskilde

Nyborg on two wheels

From challenging hills in Vejle, to the historic Jelling Rune Stones, Christiansfeld UNESCO World Heritage site, and a final sprint to the finish line in Sønderborg. 

Download Vejle press kit here

Download Sønderborg press kit here

Go off road in Vejle

Bike through Sønderborg

Press contact.

Need to know more? Get in touch with our press contacts. 

Anna Orlando PR & Press Manager, Italy & France

Email [email protected]

Kathrine Lind Gustavussen Denmark, International PR Consultant

Email [email protected]

VisitDenmark's press newsletter

More cycling in denmark.

Strap on your helmet. There is tons more to explore about cycling in Denmark!

10 reasons to cycle in Denmark

We've listed all the reasons why Denmark and cycling go together like coffee and pastries.

Denmark’s seven greatest cycling routes

Pedal like a pro on one of our seven national cycling routes!

Cycling the Baltic Sea Cycle Route: 820km of hygge on two wheels

Feel up for a challenge? How about pedaling along Denmark's longest cycling route?

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‘There is a lot of excitement’: Tour de France comes to Denmark

Anticipation mounts in greatest cycling nation in the world for world’s greatest cycling race

C ycle paths have been painted yellow, knitting enthusiasts have made a giant yellow jersey, and preparations are being made for a flotilla of boats flying yellow flags. The “big yellow party” comes to Denmark on 1 July when the country widely regarded as the best in the world for cyclists hosts the opening stage of the world’s greatest cycling race.

The Tour de France was originally slated to start in Copenhagen in 2021, but was transferred to Brest in response to a Covid-related scheduling conflict with the European Championships.

Postponing the Grand Départ Copenhagen by a year has been welcomed as allowing more time for planning and now, post Covid lockdowns, organisers are hoping their investment of 150m Danish krone (about £17.3m) will boost tourism.

“There is a lot of excitement in the city,” said Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, a cycling fan and lord mayor of Copenhagen, where a huge clock in the city’s main square is counting down to 1 July. “We’re gearing up for a big yellow party where everyone’s invited,” said Andersen.

Denmark’s reputation as a cycling nirvana is well-earned. There are approximately 7,500 miles of bike routes and bike lanes across the country and half of all Copenhageners commute by bike.

Cycling enthusiasts in Copenhagen can try out the Tour de France route themselves on 2 July, when the professionals set off for stage two from Roskilde Cathedral, where the Viking king Harald Bluetooth is said to be buried. After a windswept sprint across the Great Belt Bridge, the route finishes in Nyborg on the island of Funen.

The third and last Danish stage on 3 July starts in the city of Vejle – known as The Kingdom of Cycling thanks to its Alpine-grade ascents shaped by the ice age in an otherwise remarkably flat country.

The route will take in Vejle’s harbour, with buildings designed by the artist Olafur Eliasson, as well as the Unesco world heritage site at Jelling, where Bluetooth raised the Jelling Stone in 965 CE, marking the unification of Denmark as a Christian nation. Cyclists will pass through Kolding, celebrated for its 750-year-old royal fortress Koldinghus, as well as another Unesco world heritage site at Christiansfeld before finishing 113 miles later in Sønderborg.

A total of 5,000 volunteers will be involved in keeping the festivities going countrywide, but Vejle municipality has taken an interesting approach to building engagement. “We wanted the community to feel ownership of the event instead of just commissioning projects,” said organiser Jacob Rasmussen, “so we set up a 3m Danish krone grant fund for innovative projects that celebrate cycling”.

Tour de France Vejle is headed up by an unassuming man in shorts named Lars Ulrich – a physiotherapist and bike enthusiast who has spent his entire life explaining that he is not the drummer from Metallica.

Ulrich was tasked with getting non-cyclists excited about the race. “I thought, ‘how can I make this an historic event? How can I get it to be remembered for anything other than tight Lycra pants?’ Covid separated us for so long that Tour de France is an opportunity to come together – I want everyone involved.”

Alex Slot Hansen, an employee at Sydbank, invested in 9,000 balls of wool for the residents of local hospices and care homes to knit a giant 600kg yellow jersey to be raised up at the harbour. “I had a lot of messages from carers who say it’s been therapeutic for hospice patients in particular,” said Hansen.

Morten Teilmann-Jørgensen from the Viking Kings experience centre came up with “the Viking Biking Escape Box”. “You get in a box on a stationary bike and you see yourself on a screen,” said Teilmann-Jørgensen. “There are virtual ‘Vikings’ behind you, and when you start cycling, they start chasing.”

Restaurateurs and retailers are bracing themselves for the city to double in size, with 100,000 visitors from around the world expected. Ulrich and his team have been emphasising the importance of hospitality to local businesses and how to be a good host – something that doesn’t necessarily come naturally in a country not famed for its service culture.

Maria Theresa Olsen from Bryg coffee house in Vejle hopes to confound expectations. “I’m trying to think, ‘if I were a tourist what would I want?’ and ‘how can I give a good impression of this town I’m proud to call home?’’ she said.

“The eyes of the world will be on us, so we want to give as good as experience as we can.”

The one element of the experience no one can plan for is the weather and Denmark’s unpredictable summers make counting on sunshine futile. “I’m checking the forecast daily and crossing my fingers,’ said Hæstorp Andersen, “but it’ll be what it’ll be”.

Ulrich takes a more upbeat approach: ‘It’s like we always say in Denmark: ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather – just the wrong clothes’.’

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Tour de France 2022 route revealed

All the details of the 109th Grande Boucle from the big unveiling in Paris

The 2022 Tour de France route was unveiled in Paris on Thursday morning, with the 109th edition of the Grand Boucle including an opening 13km time trial in Copenhagen, a stage across the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, a first mountain finish at La Planche des Belles Filles, a return to the legendary hairpins of L'Alpe d'Huez, more summit finishes in the Pyrenees, and a final 40km time trial.

The route appears to be finely balanced, with 53km of time trials bookending the race route, while visits to the Vosges, the Alps and the Pyrenees offer the climbers some chances to attack and gain time.

The exposed roads of Denmark and northern France and the cobbled stage to Wallers-Arenberg will mean the overall contenders will have to be complete riders, able to fight in echelons and race on the pavé.

2021 Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar was at the Palais des Congrès in Paris to see the route revealed alongside new world champion Julian Alaphilippe and 2021 green jersey winner Mark Cavendish .

The Manxman and his rivals could have several sprint opportunities in the first week but then will have to suffer through the Alps and Pyrenees to make it to Paris on July 24.

As per tradition, race organisers ASO ensured the race route took centre stage rather than the riders, with an entertaining recap of this year’s race followed by Christian Prudhomme revealing the details of each stage of the 2022 race.

The Grand Départ in Copenhagen

The 2022 Tour de France will start in Copenhagen after a one-year delay caused by a clash with the European Football Championships in the Danish capital.

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The opening stages had already been revealed, and Prudhomme confirmed the Tour de France will begin with a 13km city-centre time trial on Friday, July 1. It seems perfect for the likes of Filippo Ganna, Stefan Küng, Primož Roglič and Wout van Aert to fight for the first yellow jersey of the race, while the overall contenders will be trying to gain a psychologically important few seconds on their rivals.

Stage 2 heads west to Nyborg and then stage 3 goes south to Sønderborg, both on exposed roads and often skirting the coastline. The 199km stage 2 ends after the 18km Great Belt Bridge to Nyborg, with the risk of crosswinds sure to make for a nervous finale. 

Stage 3 is more suited to the sprint teams with a loop around the city adding an extra twist in the final kilometres. Mads Pedersen won here at this year’s Tour of Denmark.

A nerve-racking first week and a first mountain finish at La Planche des Belles Filles

The riders enjoy a rare first rest day on Monday after the three days in Denmark but will be up early for a flight to Lille in northern France.

The racing returns on Tuesday with a stage from Dunkirk to Calais on the northern French coast. It's a day for the sprinters but they will have to fight for it in the wind and on the small hills.

Stage 5 finishes in Wallers-Arenberg and will again cause panic in the peloton and fuel debate about the place of the Paris-Roubaix cobblestone sectors in a Grand Tour. The Tour last raced on the pavé in 2018, when John Degenkolb won the stage, while previous visits took place in 2015 and in 2014, when Chris Froome quit the race early, rain made the pavé treacherous, and Vincenzo Nibali set up his overall victory.

The 2022 stage will cover 19.4km of cobblestones, across 11 sectors, five of which have never been used in either Paris-Roubaix or the Tour de France.

The route then heads into Belgium for a start in Binche on stage 6 and heads south via Luxembourg to a punchy finish in Longwy, where Peter Sagan got the better of Michael Matthews in 2017.

The Tour then heads into the Vosges for Friday’s stage 7 summit finish at the Super Planche des Belles Filles. The stage will climb beyond the standard summit, used heavily since its debut in 2010, to reach the steep gravel tracks at the top that were first introduced in 2019. Pogačar will no doubt be happy to return to the place where he snatched victory from Roglič in 2020.

The weekend sees the Tour head further south on hilly terrain into Switzerland for a flatter finish in Lausanne on stage 8. The following stage starts at the UCI headquarters in nearby Aigle before climbing back into France for a finish in the ski resort of Châtel, after a steady climb, a dip down, then a final kick up to the line. 

The riders will enjoy the second resort day in Morzine on Monday, July 11 before facing three days in the high Alps.

A return to L’Alpe d’Huez a visit to Switzerland and lots of climbing in week two

The second week will begin with three Alpine mountain stages. Stage 10, from Morzine to Megève, links two big ski resorts but pales in comparison to what's in store on the following two days. 

Stage 11 starts in Albertville and ends at high-altitude on the Col du Granon above the Serre Chevalier ski resort near Briançon. The Col du Granon climb measures 11.3km and averages more than nine per cent. Remarkably, it has only been used once before, back in 1986, when Greg Lemond was in the leader’s yellow jersey.

It ends at a breathless altitude of 2400m, making it a day for the pure climbers and anyone fighting for overall victory. Only the nearby Col du Galibier has hosted a finish at a higher altitude, in 2011, and that monster is scaled here as an appetiser.

The celebration of the pure climbers continues on July 14 – Bastille Day in France – with a return to the 21 hairpins of L’Alpe d’Huez after a four-year absence. It was last visited in 2018 when Geraint Thomas won with an angry final surge to indicate he was on track to win the Tour.

Stage 12 will be an exact replica of the famous 1986 stage that saw Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault go shoulder-to-shoulder, going over the easier side of the Galibier and then the Col de la Croix de Fer before the final climb up L'Alpe D'Huez, which measures 13.8km at 8.1 per cent.

After the mountains, stage 13 heads west to Saint-Etienne for a transition stage, which could see a bunch sprint or offer a rare chance for the breakaway and baroudeurs . If the wind is up, there could be a threat of echelons

The third weekend is surprisingly a transfer across the south of France, with a small hilltop finish on the Mende airstrip, when Steve Cummings won in 2015, followed by a long and flat ride through the sunflower fields from Rodez to Carcassonne on Sunday, July 17.

The third rest day will be in that area before the final week starts in the Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees and a final time trial in week three

The final week begins with a ride to Foix but without climbing to the Plateau de Beille. The route tackles two late climbs, cresting the Port de Lers and the Mur de Peguère before descending into Foix.

The high mountains come on stages 17 and 18, with back-to-back summit finishes at Peyragudes and then Hautacam.

Stage 17 starts in Comminges and ends on the steep Peyragudes altiport runway made famous by the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. The climb and final ramp to the finish line were used in 2017, when Romain Bardet won and Fabio Aru took the yellow jersey from Chris Froome.

The stage goes over the Col d'Aspin, Hourquette d'Ancizan and Col de Val Louron-Azet before the final climb (8km at 7.8 per cent) and the super-steep final runway ramp.

Hautacam will host a second consecutive mountain-top finish on Thursday, July 21, measuring 13.6km at 7.8 per cent. There is no Col du Tourmalet en route this time but the stage will climb the Col d'Aubisque and the Col des Spandelles on the way from Lourdes.

Stage 18 marks the end of the mountains but it will be difficult to see Paris from Hautacam. The riders face a long ride out of the Pyrenees to Cahors in the north of the Occitanie region on the Lot river. It will be the usual battle of the breakaway versus the sprinters.

The nearby villages of Lacapelle-Marival and Rocamadour will host the final 40km individual time trial on the final Saturday, the stage route passing through the spectacular rolling countryside near the Padirac caves.

The riders will transfer to Paris on Sunday morning for the final traditional stage around the French capital. The stage will start in the Thoiry Zoo Safari to the west of the city and end with the traditional laps of the Champs-Elysées and the crowning of the 2022 winner at sunset.

Tour de France 2022 stages

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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

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