2026 Tour of Denmark | Wout van Aert completes remarkable comeback with overall victory
CyclingSunday, 02 August 2026 at 15:46
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Follow us on GoogleAnyone who knows the cycling calendar by heart knows that the Tour of Denmark comes up soon after the Tour de France. This year, the Scandinavian country is once again hosting a strong field of riders, including the returning Wout van Aert. IDL Pro Cycling breaks down what you can expect from the five-day Danish race!
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The Tour of Denmark has been held since 1985, so—with a brief hiatus in 1988 and 1995—this year marks the 36th edition. As of 2026, the stage race has 2.Pro status, whereas from 2005 to 2020 it held the highest status in cycling.
The list of winners of the Danmark Rundt, as it’s known in Denmark, includes quite a few big names. Mads Pedersen was last year’s winner, but he won’t be defending his title this year for Lidl-Trek. Grand Tour winners such as Remco Evenepoel (2021) and, going further back, Ivan Basso (2005) have also claimed victory here. Van Aert triumphed in 2018, and Christophe Laporte in 2022.
Recent Winners of the Tour of Denmark
2025 Mads Pedersen
2024 Arnaud De Lie
2023 Mads Pedersen
2022 Christophe Laporte
2021 Remco Evenepoel
2020 Cancelled
2019 Niklas Larsen
2018 Wout van Aert
2017 Mads Pedersen
2016 Michael Valgren
2024 Arnaud De Lie
2023 Mads Pedersen
2022 Christophe Laporte
2021 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Niklas Larsen
2018 Wout van Aert
2017 Mads Pedersen
2016 Michael Valgren
2026 Tour of Denmark route, stage favorites, and start time
Stage 1, Wednesday, July 29: Aalborg – Aalborg (197.2 km)
We’ll kick off this Tour of Denmark in Aalborg, where the first stage—nearly 200 kilometers long—awaits us. The profile is a bit misleading, as there aren’t actually that many ups and downs on Day 1. We’ll finish after completing three small local loops, one of which includes a short climb of 700 meters at a 6.1% gradient.
Winner
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 2, Thursday, July 30: Glyngøre – Skive (182.9 km)
On day two as well, the profile seems to suggest all sorts of steep climbs, but that’s not the case. The format here is the same as the day before, as we’ll once again finish after completing three laps of a local circuit, which again includes a small climb.
Winner
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 3, Friday, July 31: Fredericia - Vejle (202.9 km)
On day three, the course includes significantly more hills than on the first two days. It’s a constant up-and-down ride, especially in the final stretch. Riders aiming for the overall victory will have to make their move on this stage. The final 800 meters are very tight, so a strong finish will be essential!
Winner
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 4, Saturday, August 1: Rudkøbing - Faaborg (172.6 km)
On day four, the riders head toward Faaborg, where another tricky final circuit awaits them. The decisive factor there is the Nørreskov climb, which is 800 meters long with an average gradient of 4.8%. The riders will have to tackle it three times, after which there will be a short descent to the finish.
Winner
Storm Ingebrigtsen (Uno-X Mobility)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 5, Sunday, August 2: Køge - Rødovre (126 km)
While the organizers did their best in the early days to include as many hills as possible in the course, that’s much less the case for the final stretch. The finish, in particular, is almost entirely flat, so we’ll most likely see one more sprint for the stage win in Rødovre.
Winner
Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Danish national team)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Final general classification — 2026 Tour of Denmark
- Wout van Aert
- Lukas Kubis — +0:21
- Henrik Pedersen — +0:28
- Christophe Laporte — +0:29
- Pierre-André Coté — +0:45
Read also
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Such a bright future ahead—Willebrord years, then IPT Academy deal lined up, plus the family pedigree. This one really hurts the whole peloton. Courage to his mates and staff. Força, Fin. Descanse em paz.cadencekingm14-08-2026
- - Can someone explain how race security works at the Tour of Portugal? The article mentions two different versions (oncoming car vs stationary car). Which is it, and who’s responsible for closing those roads?davidm14-08-2026
- - Devastated. Neutralising the stage was the only respectful call. But how on earth does a car end up on course during a live stage in 2026? Someone needs to answer for this.robert6514-08-2026
- - Heartbreaking news. Finlay had real talent against the clock, third at the U23 TT nats this summer said it all. Deepest condolences to the Tarlings and NSN. Rest in peace, Fin.julien14-08-2026
- - Small nitpick: calling her team “UAE Team L’Imad” looks off – isn’t it UAE Team ADQ? If there’s been a rebrand, would love a link. Otherwise top article.sprocketspiny13-08-2026
- - Great read, cheers. Montreal Worlds on Sept 26 is a punchy course, right? If it’s more classics-style, that could really suit ELB’s diesel plus race smarts. Forza Elisa!gearguru3313-08-2026
- - When she says focus shifts after 2026 toward the 2027 TdFF, does that mean she’ll skip a full GC tilt at the 2026 Giro? Or will she ride it as prep and target stages like this year?cyclechamp4513-08-2026
- - Are we sure the gap to Vollering “isn’t that big”? On the climbs Demi looked untouchable, and Kasia too. ELB needs a sharper team train in the high mountains or she’ll be chasing again inlindae13-08-2026
- - Massive respect for ELB. Coming back from bronchitis and that rough Giro to snag third in Nice says everything about her engine and race craft. Loved how she managed the final three stages – proper veteran nous.michael5413-08-2026
- - Wow, I didn’t know wearing Pantani’s earring was even allowed. Does UCI normally permit jewelry in races, or was that strictly for the Olympics?gearguru3312-08-2026
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