Cheering crowds, fast-paced action and a festival of cycling – Denmark just hosted a brand-new world-class road race: Copenhagen Sprint. From the historic start in Roskilde, across nine enthusiastic municipalities, and all the way to the spectacular finish line in Copenhagen, thousands of cycling fans turned out to celebrate the sport they love.
Alongside the professional races, the streets of Copenhagen came alive with fan zones, music, large screens, and a city-wide cycling festival featuring community rides and family activities – all on car-free roads.
As a national partnership initiative, the inaugural edition of Copenhagen Sprint has been met with pride and optimism for the future:
Lars Weiss, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, shared his enthusiasm:
“What an incredible celebration of cycling in Copenhagen! Once again, our city showed why it’s one of the world’s leading cycling capitals. The atmosphere, the fans, the world-class athletes – it all came together beautifully. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Copenhagen Sprint.”
Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, highlighted the broader impact:
“Denmark is firmly in the leader’s jersey when it comes to cycling – and events like this generate strong tailwinds for both communities and businesses. We remain committed to bringing major international sporting events to Denmark in the future.”
Morten Anderson, President of the Danish Cycling Federation, reflected on the sporting success:
“The first edition of Copenhagen Sprint exceeded all expectations. It was a celebration of cycling in every sense – from elite stars to youth races and massive fan engagement. We are proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for what lies ahead.”
Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, added:
“Copenhagen Sprint was everything we hoped for – top-level cycling and a true people’s event, all in beautiful summer weather. I dare say: a new classic may have been born.”
Tomas Breddam, Mayor of Roskilde, emphasised community impact:
“It was a fantastic start to Denmark’s new World Tour race. From Roskilde to Copenhagen, the celebration never stopped – strengthening our community spirit and cycling joy across all generations.”
Line Barfod, Mayor for Technical and Environmental Affairs, City of Copenhagen, stated:
“Experiencing Copenhagen without cars – and participating in the community cycling event – was fantastic. Combined with the Cycling Summit, it highlighted the importance of everyday cycling on the global agenda.”
Mia Nyegaard, Mayor for Culture and Leisure, City of Copenhagen, said:
“It was a thrill to witness Copenhagen Sprint – and see the city streets transformed into a stunning stage for world-class sprinting. Copenhagen has once again shown its strength as an international event city.”
Tobias Hoff, CEO of Copenhagen Sprint, noted:
“Of course we had opening-day nerves, but they quickly turned into pure joy. Seeing thousands of fans embrace both the race and side events was incredible. Now we look forward to evaluation – and to raising the bar even higher next year.”
Søren Tegen Pedersen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, commented:
“This was a strong debut for Denmark’s own international cycling race. Beyond the sport, Copenhagen Sprint also served as a platform to promote cycling for people with disabilities and to highlight political engagement through the Cycling Summit. It’s a great showcase of our cycling culture and the capital as an event city.”
Katja Moesgaard, CEO of VisitDenmark, concluded:
“For a small country, hosting major international sporting events is a powerful opportunity. Copenhagen Sprint gives us a strong platform to tell the world about Denmark as a cycling nation – both professionally and as a bike-friendly destination for visitors.”
