Turkey’s debut in the yellow jersey race of the 2022 Tour will unfold over a completely flat 13.2-kilometer time trial in Copenhagen, making history with the northernmost start ever seen in a cycling grand tour. The streets will offer almost no bends or turns, placing a premium on pure, unrelenting speed as riders chase records on a course that favors power and precision over technique. The scene is set for a test of peak power rather than endurance, a challenge that will push contenders to the edge of their limits as they sprint to break the clock, not the corners of the route.
The race profile favors flat, high-output efforts and places a spotlight on the best specialists who can maintain top speed for the entire course. Italian powerhouse Filippo Ganna is expected to lead the charge, guiding a team of clock-watchers and mechanics who aim to sign a new speed landmark on the global stage. It is a moment when the sport looks to redefine the limits of what a 13.2-kilometer stretch of asphalt can yield in terms of speed and efficiency.
A credible assessment from the sport’s insiders suggests a potential speed record in the vicinity of 56 kilometers per hour, a figure Thierry Gouvenou, the event’s sporting director, has indicated could be within reach under optimal conditions. His forecast underscores the rare confluence of perfect wind, smooth pavement, and flawless rider and machine coordination that would be required to break such a record.
The opening stage is designed to reveal early differences in the general classification while also establishing early margins that could influence the eventual outcome. Even though the distance is modest, the impact of these margins can be decisive as the race unfolds over subsequent days. It is a day of measurement as much as of speed, a moment when teams and riders begin to calibrate their positions in the broader pursuit for the overall title.
In addition to the sprint for the best time, a separate evaluation will provide a snapshot of form. Riders will be tested against a stringent pace to determine who enters the race peak condition and who still has room for growth as the competition stretches ahead.
– Stage 1: Copenhagen – Copenhagen, 13.2 km time trial
Departure time for the leading rider is scheduled at 16:00 local time, which corresponds to 14:00 GMT. The final rider is anticipated to cross the finish line around 19:10 local time, roughly 17:10 GMT, marking the close of a stage that blends speed, strategy, and the raw intensity of a flat course that rewards exacting execution and top-tier power output.