Jasper Philipsen was fastest when the Copenhagen Sprint was decided in a decimated sprint ahead of the National Gallery of Denmark. The rider from Alpecin-Premier Tech relegated Tobias Lund Andresen and Sam Welsford to the other podiums.
Belgian Jasper Philipsen won the second edition of the World Tour race Copenhagen Sprint on Sunday. After 228 km from Roskilde over the roads of North Zealand, the race was decided in a decimated sprint, and here the Belgian super sprinter Tobias Lund Andresen and Sam Welsford relegated to the other podium places.
On the penultimate lap, a crash meant that the field was severely decimated. Therefore, the sprint before the National Gallery of Denmark ended up being a duel between about 30 riders, and here Jasper Philipsen was fastest.
“It was a very hectic day. Just like last year, there was a crash on the last lap, which is a shame for those who had been looking forward to seeing a mass sprint. I just hope everyone is okay. All teams participated well in the lead work. The speed was really high. I don’t know it exactly, but it felt fast. I’m very happy with my form. It’s important to get a win, now it’s just a matter of finding the last percentages towards the Tour de France,” said Jasper Philipsen after the victory.
The morning outbreak was close to fooling everyone
The 228 km started in Roskilde and went around North Zealand via Frederikssund, Hillerød, Farum, Hillerød and Ballerup, before the peloton after 175 km hit the circuit in Copenhagen.
The trip was marked by a five-man breakaway with, among others, four Danes, the two national team riders Mads Andersen and Frederik Rodenberg, William Blume, Uno-X Mobility, and Anders Foldager, Jayco Alula, as well as the Norwegian Rune Herregodts, UAE Team Emirates.
The breakaway lasted all the way to Copenhagen and was not picked up until a few kilometers before the finish line. Therefore, the national team’s Mads Andersen was also annoyed:
“It was fantastic to drive around Copenhagen, and I managed to imagine that we were going to race for the victory. Still, I’m not disappointed, because it was the coolest experience,” says Mads Andersen, who knows two of the other breakaways, William Blume and Anders Foldager, from their high school days in Vejle.
World-class speed, excitement and cycling
Both the men’s and women’s edition of Copenhagen Sprint was completed for UG, and it was also a happy sports director who gave status after the race.
“It has been a really good weekend for Copenhagen Sprint this year and for cycling in Denmark. Yesterday, the women delivered a race at a level that was fully worthy of the World Tour, and Lorena Wiebes once again showed why she is one of the world’s absolute strongest riders. Today, the men followed up with another strong race with Jasper Philipsen as the winner and with Danish Tobias Lund Andresen as a nice second,” says Jesper Tikiøb, race director, Copenhagen Sprint, who was pleased that the race gave the audience a fantastic bike race:
“It was a race that gave the spectators exactly what Copenhagen Sprint is set up for: speed, excitement and world-class cycling on Danish roads. It’s fantastic to see the world’s largest cycling team and riders in Denmark. Even with a shower or two along the way, people came out, cheered and helped show that Copenhagen Sprint has already got hold of the Danes.”