DIF, Denmark’s Sports Confederation, wasted very little time in hailing Jonas Vingegaard for winning the Tour de France – an achievement all the more convincing as it was partly held in Denmark for the first time in its 118-year history.
As is always to be expected when Stage 21 is a conventional road stage with minimal climbing – unlike in 1989, when it was a time trial that allowed Greg Lemond to overtake Laurent Fignon’s 50-second lead to triumph by eight – Vingegaard was effortless in the final day and became the second Danish winner of the race in 109 races, after Bjarne Riis in 1996.
The foregone conclusion allows the world’s cycling media to prepare their specimen for victory the night before, leaving them free to join Vingegaard and his fellow jersey holders with a champagne snuffer going early.
As long as they’re able to spell the stage winner’s name correctly and hit the ‘publish’ button when they’re done, it’s all good.
Let’s get it in early, Hans!
DIF was no exception, and triggered a prolonged admiration a few hours before Vingegaard had even crossed the finish line!
“From DIF, a huge congratulations to Jonas Vingegaard on his strong performance, which has gathered and captivated most of Denmark. It is difficult to find words that can describe his performance, but there is no doubt that it belongs on the very top shelf of significant Danish sports results of all time,” praised DIF chairman Hans Natorp.
“Vingegaard’s triumph sets a beautiful framework for a Tour de France, which will go down in Danish sports history with at least four great Danish stage victories and a phenomenal start in Denmark. It has been both moving and breathtaking to follow.”
Together with Vingegaard’s victories in the 11th and 18th stages, Magnus Cort (10) and Mads Pedersen (13) were also triumphant.
Trims the eagle’s wings a bit
2022 has undoubtedly had a significant head start compared to 1996 – not least because it started in Denmark and gripped the entire nation in a French frenzy.
Both Riis and Vingegaard picked up unlikely victories by defeating previously considered immortal opponents, Miguel Indurain and Tadej Pogačar.
But ask the ordinary Dane about Riis today, and most would rather forget his victory.
Doping allegations, first aired in 1998 but never proven, have somewhat tarnished the performance of the Eagle from Herning, although he remains a very prominent name in the sport as owner and then manager of the successful Tinkoff–Saxo team.
Set your alarm for Wednesday morning!
It is therefore fitting that Vingegaard’s tour gets into full swing on Wednesday, when he takes part in an official celebration in Copenhagen, the city where the race started over three weeks ago on 1 July.
Just before noon, he appears on the balcony of the town hall – a usual appearance reserved for the country’s greatest triumphs, from Caroline Wozniacki winning the Australian Open 2018 to the various major handball victories and the men’s football team after their triumph at the European Championships in 1992.
This will be followed by a reception on Thursday in his hometown of Glyngøre, a fishing village 12 km south of Nykøbing Mors in North Jutland.
First call, however, is Den Bosch, the Dutch base of his team Jumbo-Visma, which he visits on Tuesday. That explains why Vingegaard and his team held the week’s first knee-up at the Dutch embassy in Paris last night.
“On Tuesday I’m going to a party in Holland, on Wednesday to Copenhagen, and on Thursday I’m going home to the city where I come from. And then I hit the sofa on Friday,” says Vingegaard to the media.
Source: The Nordic Page