89
15:27
Sprint in Christiansfeld
Although you don’t begrudge the escapee the sprint classification, there are of course still more points to be won. And the teams are forming up for the fight. This increases the pace. The gap melts to two and a half minutes.
88
15:24
Nielsen Bergkönig in Thuringia
Magnus Cort Nielsen has already won a mountain jersey once before, so he also finished it at the end of a stage race. That happened in 2013 at the Thuringia Tour (U23). And although it is a low mountain range, the climbs in this race were always quite demanding.
86
15:20
Three and a half minutes
The breakaway continues to build steadily at three and a half minutes. It can therefore be assumed that the intermediate sprint will not be taken away from him either. So Nielsen is getting a good deal here.
83
15:16
Nielsen again
The fifth mountain classification of this tour also goes to Magnus Cort Nielsen. Again, this is a 4th category, which is rewarded with a point and 200 euros for the team fund. So the Dane now has five points. This increases his chances of being able to wear the mountain jersey in France for a while longer.
80
15:14
Second mountain classification
Now we are approaching the second mountain classification of the day. In Hejlsminde Strand, the ascent is not even a kilometer long – with an incline of 5.5 percent. There is a point at a height of 40 meters above sea level.
76
15:10
Low-event bike race
Furthermore, little is happening. The situation remains stable. Magnus Cort Nielsen is the hero of the day. For the Danish cycling fans this is of course a day of celebration. The 29-year-old doesn’t even think about kicking up his legs and falling back, even though his mountain jersey is securely on his shoulders.
72
15:01
Companion for Nielsen
A cycling fan is just playing along the pace of Magnus Cort Nielsen on a path next to the road. Does that mean motivation for the professional? After all, the man has a small Danish flag in his hand. That shouldn’t demoralize Nielsen, because the fan is on the road with electronic support and then has to stop because cars are in the way.
68
14:57
The advantage holds
The current development of the time interval proves that the man in front will continue to be allowed to do as he pleases. Its cushion is growing slightly again. That’s about 3:45 minutes at the moment.
65
14:52
Nielsen cranks undeterred
Nielsen is still three and a half minutes ahead and is carried further by the fans on the side of the road. The Danish runner-up in the individual time trial will probably also reach the next mountain classification on his own – and the intermediate sprint eight kilometers later.
59
14:44
Quick-Step is in control
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team has lined up quite numerously at the top of the ranking. The boys drive for Fabio Jakobsen, yesterday’s winner. A man from Lotto Soudal is also up there. Controlling the gap to the breakaway works very well.
54
14:35
Kolding
On our journey through the Syddanmark region, in which we move throughout the stage, we now cross Kolding. The landmark of the port city on the fjord of the same name is Koldinghus Castle. The handball stronghold is also proud of the Tramholt Museum.
49
14:32
Four minutes left for Nielsen
Bit by bit, the peloton nibbles away from the lead of the still fugitive. Magnus Cort Nielsen still has about four minutes left. So the pursuers have everything under control, but will probably let the Dane flounder for a while.
45
14:23
weather
In any case, the professional cyclists are allowed to do their work under good conditions. With 22 degrees and currently loose clouds, we do not expect precipitation. The moderate wind doesn’t play a big role either.
41
14:20
First hour of racing
During the first hour of racing, the escapee covered 39.7 kilometers. We are moving below the slowest average of the marching table and are heading for a finish at around 5:50 p.m. But there will certainly be a little more speed.
38
14:08
No man for the general classification
Only in the overall individual ranking does Magnus Cort Nielsen not have a say. In 170th place, the 29-year-old is already more than eight and a half minutes behind. His current lead over the main field is currently a good five minutes.
34
14:05
Nielsen is also at the forefront when it comes to green
Should Nielsen also get the intermediate sprint shortly afterwards in addition to the upcoming mountain classification, the Dane would score a total of 42 points in the classification for the green jersey and climb to 3rd place.
30
14:01
How long does Nielsen last?
There are now about 55 kilometers to pedal until the next climb. Can our runaway get there alone? His lead has just dropped below six minutes. The peloton still seems more organized to keep the distance under control. But you don’t want to put the gambler out there for better or for worse.
28
13:57
Nielsen keeps the jersey
So the mountain jersey is taken for now. All four points that have been awarded in this Grand Boucle so far have been grabbed by Nielsen. And since there are only two more points at stake today, the dotted textile can no longer be taken away from him.
27
13:54
Mountain point for the breakaway
Officially, the first climb of the day is a 1.1-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 3.4 percent. At the top of Koldingvej there is a point for Magnus Cort Nielsen. There is also 200 euros for the team fund of EF Education – Easypost.
26
13:52
Holiday for Nielsen
Now the gap is melting slightly for the first time. Magnus Cort Nielsen is currently driving through the streets of Velje again. And it’s not far to the mountain classification. The Dane is celebrated by his countrymen. The crowds of people lining the streets here are unbelievable.
24
1:48 p.m
tracking work begins
There is now some structure in the main field. Some teams see the time has come not to let the gap grow any further. The peloton immediately lengthens.
21
13:44
Almost seven minutes
Magnus Cort Nielsen is undeterred at the front. The distance to the peloton is moving towards seven minutes. And the desired mountain classification is slowly coming within reach.
17
13:42
View of the countryside
The racers are currently on a loop west of Velje. The peloton is just passing Fårup Sø, a lake. You will soon approach today’s starting point again and only then take the path roughly in a southerly direction.
15
1:35 p.m
Ride in the peloton
You go for a walk in the peloton, which looks like a very relaxed Sunday ride. The pros have time to chat. This is reminiscent of the Tour d’Honneur, the last stage of the tour. But we’re still a long way from that. Only Magnus Cort Nielsen works and benefits from it. The Dane’s plan to reach the first mountain classification as a soloist should work out. He already has a lead of more than four minutes.
12.
13:32
Colored start numbers
Sven Erik Bystrøm, who was honored for his commitment on yesterday’s stage, is wearing the red start number. The best team so far is Jumbo – Visma with 21 seconds ahead of Ineos Grenadiers.
10
13:25
Target arrival as a soloist unrealistic
Of course, Nielsen is still a long way from a stage success. The man from EF Education – Easypost certainly doesn’t think about that seriously either. Even if he stalls by several minutes, the peloton will remain in control and eventually bring him back. The Dane is only fixated on his mountain jersey.
8th.
13:23
Magnus Cort Nielsen
Our breakaway is on his fourth tour and has never been a man for the general classification. The 29-year-old has already won a stage in the Tour of France. That was in 2018. The Dane celebrated six victories at the Vuelta.
5.
13:19
stable situation
Everyone is satisfied with this situation, which is correspondingly stable. In the peloton you let it roll along leisurely and make the fugitives up front. So Magnus Cort Nielsen quickly surpassed by a minute.
3.
13:17
Nielsen traveling alone
None of the competitors are making any moves to follow the outlier yet. Nielsen primarily has the first mountain classification in mind, which will be taken 27.3 kilometers after the start. If the Dane gets the point awarded there, if he already had his mountain jersey, he would take it with him to France tomorrow.
1.
13:14
Sharp start
Tour director Christian Prudhomme now gives the go-ahead for the race, waving the flag. Magnus Cort Nielsen doesn’t hesitate. The Dane is keen to defend his mountain jersey and makes a run for it.
13:05
It’s rolling
The peloton is just starting to move. The professional cyclists will now be rolling through the streets of Velje in the Syddanmark region for about ten minutes. Despite yesterday’s falls, all 176 riders should still be there. Thousands of spectators line the streets and cheer on the pedallers.
13:01
The rest of the shirts
Green is also owned by Wout van Aert. Here the lead over pursuer Fabio Jakobsen, yesterday’s winner, is one point. The Dutchman is wearing the sprinter’s jersey today. As yesterday’s breakaway, Magnus Cort Nielsen collected all three mountain points awarded so far and thus secured the dotted jersey. The two-time tour winner and defending champion Tadej Pogačar, who is already lurking in third place in the overall rankings, drives in white.
12:52
Maillot Jaune
As a versatile racer, Wout van Aert proved on Saturday that he can also have a say in the mass sprint. So defending the yellow jersey he won yesterday is not unlikely. The Belgian is only a miserable second ahead of compatriot Yves Lampaert, the winner of the first stage, but the sprinter competitors, in the person of Mads Pedersen, have a deficit of twelve seconds or more.
12:43 p.m
profile
Topographically, the challenges are limited. Three mountain ratings in the 4th category are obligatory in order to be able to award at least a few points for the dotted jersey. There can be no question of real mountains given the maximum height of 106 meters above sea level. The intermediate sprint is on the program in Christiansfeld almost exactly halfway through the stage. Sprint is also the keyword for the finish line. The fast-legged men’s teams will do their best to catch the breakaways that will always happen.
12:34
bon jour!
Welcome to the 3rd stage of the Tour de France! At the end of the three days in Denmark and before tomorrow’s transfer to the French Atlantic coast, the peloton pedals another 182 kilometers on flat Danish roads. From Velje, the journey south takes you very close to the German border. The destination is Sønderborg on the Flensburg Fjord. The sharp start is scheduled for around 1:15 p.m.