Tour de France: Central Copenhangen braces for race
COPENHAGEN, Denmark –
The centre of Copenhagen was shut down Friday forward of the beginning of the Tour de France as riders ready to deal with the primary leg of the race, a person time trial by way of the Danish capital.
Massive areas alongside the 13-kilometre (eight-mile) route had been closed within the usually busy downtown, with rain falling that might make a part of the stage treacherous — particularly the stretch throughout the sq. of Amalienborg Palace, the primary residence of Denmark’s in style royal household, which is paved with cobble stones. The time trial, a race in opposition to the clock that sees the riders set out one after the other in intervals, may also go previous a few of Copenhagen’s different best-known landmarks, together with the Little Mermaid statue, sitting on her perch on the entrance of the harbor.
Earlier Friday, Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik went for a journey alongside the route.
“I’ve simply ridden the route by bike. It’s nice to see the nice assist for the tour at house,” mentioned the 54-year Frederik, sporting a helmet, shorts and a t-shirt. The palace additionally printed on Instagram classic images of Danish royals using bicycles, together with Frederik’s nice grandfather, King Christian X and the present Queen Margrethe.
The stage begins at 4 p.m. native time (1400 GMT).
Some locals obtained up early to get a great place alongside the route, together with 77-year-old Grethe Dalsgard, who informed Danish broadcaster DR that she arrived at round 7:30 a.m. and was standing some 20 metres from the ending line by town corridor.
“I’m certain I can see all of them,” Dalsgard informed DR.
The three-week race contains two extra phases in Denmark, together with crossing the Nice Belt Bridge that hyperlinks the Zealand island, the place Copenhagen sits and the central isle of Funen.
The beginning in Denmark — the twenty fourth time that the race has began exterior of France — was alleged to be held in 2021 however was postponed a 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After the Danish phases, the riders journey to France with a stage between Dunkerque and Calais.
Final 12 months, Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar gained the Tour for the third straight time and he’s a agency favorite to defend his title. The race ends in Paris on July 24.
