Copenhagen was booked out. It is not a big city with only 600,000 residents and in the middle of summer the Tour de France Grand Depart saw the city at capacity. The Danish are warm, many ride their bikes everywhere and for visitors, everything is pricey. In 2022, the ‘world’s best bike city’ gave the Grand Depart a roaring reception. The rider presentation in the iconic Tivoli amusement park came with a touch of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. And the unusually long dry-spell that greeted the tour entourage ended whe the Jérémy Lecroq was the first rider off the starting blocks for the individual time trial which marked the start of the 2022 Tour de France.
Australian’s are represented in the tour by 9 riders with GC contenders like Ben O’Conner (AG2R) and Jack Haig (Bahrain), Sprinters including Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco) and domestiques and stage-win contenders including Michael Storer (Groupama FDJ), Luke Durbridge and Nick Schultz (BikeExchange-Jayco), Chris Hamilton (Team DSM) and Simon Clarke (Team Israel Premier-Tech).
Ahead of the tour the teams were nervous. Just earlier, the Tour de Suisse saw very hot weather conditions and a Covid outbreak that decimated the field. Mixed-messages from the race organiser left the teams uncertain about ‘team bubbles’ and how much they should protect their riders without impeding their staff, team technical partners and even media.
Parallel cultural and sporting events in Denmark increased the load on the already stressed transport system making transport tougher for everyone – even the organisers had to delay the official opening of the media center (which was miles out of town) because the staff and supplies were delayed. A Dane told me when I arrived that the serious train delay problems I encountered was the first for him in 20 years. Behind the scenes, there was no time to get a feel for the city when the focus is on fast bike riders – but it is city worth visiting (I have been before) – even when they are not hosting the Tour de France.
Here is a small selection of insights into the first stages of the Tour de France in Copenhagen and Roskilde. They are not the regular photos you of the race, so comments are added for context.
One of my favourite moments. During the winners presentation after the individual trial on stage one, people looked on from the surrounding buildings and this young lady with a margarita felt so ‘French’.
There were some iconic photographs as the peloton departed Roskilde in stage two with excited crowds celebrating the riders. The photographers on the motos had the best shots though from the neutral start, this still captured the feel.
Photographers galore, most were courteous to one another – providing space and room for everyone to get ‘the shot of the day’. But at the same time… focussed because a fleeting moment passes so quickly.
One of my favourite rider shots, the new Specialized aero helmets with their ‘Oakley style’ visors are fairly distinct and from the riders who are ‘in their zone’ grabbing a thumbs-up is special.
Nils Polit of BORA – hansgrohe appears reflective after his warmup as he prepares to leave for the start and his first tarmac on the trickey and wet 13.2km circuit around Copenhagen
Two Tour de France winners, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas share a moment.
Is this your next winner? Tadej Pogačar appears to be unbeatable… there are strong contenders but the two-time Tour de France winner is young and in his Prime.
Every day, Latvian Trek Segafredo rider Toms Skujiņš tweets #theRealTDF starts today. Here is warming up with the ice vest and both riders have their headphones in and this means… don’t distract them at all!
Yves Lampert was an unexpected winner of the individual Time Trial and entering the stage for his jerseys, his emotions revealed how significant this win is in his career.
Is this you? This is one of my favourite photos, not because it is a masterpiece, but because it reminds me that many of us who are bike fascinated fans and who love the race and the details. This gentleman is taking a closer look at the groupset of the Team UAE bikes and it looks like he is about to discover what makes Tadej Pogačar go so fast. Better go and get one of those!
