“Vingegaard, Vingegaard, Vingegaard!” » The name of the last winner of the Tour de France resonated in the heart of the Danish capital this Wednesday. Crowded with people, the square opposite Copenhagen City Hall was waiting for one thing: the arrival of the legend, Jonas Vingegaard.
With the yellow jersey still stuck to his body, Tadej Pogacar’s rival greeted the public for a few minutes before speaking in front of several thousand Danes. “It is still difficult to understand that I won the Tour de France two years in a row,” declared the Jumbo-Visma rider from the balcony of City Hall. “If someone had told me this five years ago, I don’t think I would have believed it,” he continued. However, he flew past the 2023 Tour de France, leaving his Slovenian runner-up at 7′29′’.
The idol of an entire country
Already winner of the Grande Boucle last year, the 26-year-old was able to experience a triumphant return once again. If there were thousands of them, in the colors of the Danish flag, facing him this Wednesday, there were more than a million following his arrival on the Champs-Élysées on television on Sunday. That is almost one Dane in six, for this country which has 5.8 million inhabitants. Proud of her country, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen gave a speech to celebrate the idol of an entire country: “More than anything, you have won the hearts of all Danes, and we are very proud of you. »
