The Danish capital erupted with excitement this Wednesday as Tour de France winner Tomas Vingegaard returned home to Denmark, greeted by thousands who lined the streets in a display of national pride. The moment marked the biggest win of his career and a milestone for Danish cycling.
In the early afternoon, a private plane arrived at Kastrup airport, escorted by two Norwegian Armed Forces F-16 fighters. From there, Vingegaard and his entourage rode through central Copenhagen, moving from the airport to the Town Hall Square amid cheering fans and flashing cameras.
#OurMasterpiece
What a crowd in Copenhagen. pic.twitter.com/Bqfx7J4WK7
— Team Jumbo-Visma bike (@JumboVismaRoad) 27 July 2022
The crowd stretched across the streets as Vingegaard appeared on a balcony, dressed in a bright yellow outfit, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He spoke to the Danish press and reflected on the journey that led to his victory, noting how surreal it felt to have won the Tour de France and to see so much support in his home country.
“Thank you so much to everyone who came and thank you so much to everyone who has supported me over the past three weeks,” he said, expressing gratitude for the encouragement he received along the way. He credited the Tour de France experience and the countless Danish amateur cycling clubs for playing a key role in his success.
“I probably wouldn’t have won without them,” he added, acknowledging the broader cycling community that helped him reach the yellow jersey. The ceremony featured Vingegaard’s close associates in attendance, including Copenhagen Mayor Sophie Haestorp Andersen, Danish Trade Minister Simon Kollerup, and teammates Mads Pedersen and Michael Morkov, who stood beside him during the celebration.
As fans packed the streets of central Copenhagen, authorities advised attendees to rely on bicycles or public transportation to reach the event, noting that several routes would be temporarily closed to accommodate the celebration and ensure safety.
Tonight’s festivities were expected to continue with a concert at Tivoli, the famed amusement park in the heart of the city. Danish artists Saveus and Lis Sørensen were anticipated to perform, with crowds potentially reaching up to 25,000 attendees as the celebration carried on into the afternoon and evening.
On Thursday, Vingegaard would be honored in his hometown of Glyngøre. Local reports indicate he planned to take a break at least until the end of August, savoring the moment after a remarkable season. The victory marked a historic milestone for Denmark, as Vingegaard became the first Danish rider to win the Tour de France since 1996, when Bjarne Riis claimed the yellow jersey.
In retrospect, the homecoming underscored a surge of national pride in Danish cycling and the broader support for Vingegaard’s meteoric rise, highlighting the country’s growing footprint in the sport and the lasting impact of his triumph on fans and aspiring riders alike.