– Absolutely crazy – VG

Updated less than 20 minutes ago

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– I want to say thank you to all the volunteers around Denmark, without them I would never have won the Tour de France, and the other Danish results would not have come either. Many thanks to all the clubs in Denmark, who supported this, says Vingegaard in his speech in the town hall, after thanking the other speakers.

The Danish Tour de France winner was greeted by a sea of ​​people dressed in red and white at the town hall square in Copenhagen. Before he went out on the balcony and received the tribute from those present, there were speeches by, among others, Lord Mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.

– I am very proud to receive you here at the town hall. The town hall is the place where we welcome and celebrate the biggest sporting achievements. What you have done is one of the biggest, says Hæstorp Andersen and compares it to when the Danish national football team won the EC in 1992.

In the town hall, the Minister of Industry in Denmark, Simon Kollerup, also gave a speech:

– It is not just that you have won the world’s hardest race, that in itself is incredible. But that’s the way you’ve done it, you’ve been humble, a gentleman and a true sportsman, says Kollerup and continued:

– Thank you for being a real sportsman, thank you for daring to dream, all of Denmark is proud of you, welcome home.

After the trip out onto the town hall balcony, Vingegaard and the other invited guests will now eat pancakes inside the town hall, before the party continues at Tivoli at 4 p.m.

However, Vingegaard was called out again on the balcony soon after, where the national anthem was sung for the Dane, among other things. Clearly moved, he thanked those present.

– It is absolutely fantastic to stand here with so many people. It’s absolutely insane. I can’t understand it. Thank you very much, says the 25-year-old.

Around ten past twelve, this year’s Tour de France winner landed at Kastrup. There he was received by the press and the chairman of the Danish sports association.

– It was an absolutely fantastic flight, with a private plane and then two F-16s came and greeted, it was a completely crazy experience, and then this reception at Kastrup, says Vingegaard to Danish TV 2.

He was then transported to the terminal and sat in an open car bound for the town hall square in Copenhagen, where a sea of ​​people awaited.

– I don’t know, I just think I’m preparing for it to be a huge experience, and bigger than what I imagine, Vingegaard answers how one prepares to be praised by several thousand Danes.

After finishing second in last year’s edition of the world’s biggest bicycle race, it was he who knocked out the rest of the competition this year. The 25-year-old from Hillerslev impressed both in the mountains and at pace, in the end two minutes and 43 seconds separated him and the second man in the summary, Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia.

After a visit to the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma’s headquarters in Den Bosch, where Vingegaard and teammate Wout Van Aert, who won the green points jersey, were praised, the Danish capital Copenhagen is now their turn.

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From the terminal at Kastrup, the car drove in the direction of the town hall square, and all along the way into the center thousands of Danes had turned up to both thank and catch a glimpse of the 25-year-old.

– Thank you very much for your fantastic support throughout the Tour de France. And thanks to everyone who showed up today. It’s really touching, thank you very much to all Danes, said Vingegaard from the car.

After a series of speeches in the town hall and tributes from the balcony, the Tour de France winner will head for Tivoli, where he and other Danish riders who took part in this year’s ride will take the stage in front of the fans.

– Stop the nonsense, it sounds completely crazy, Vingegaard told Danish TV 2 when they announced before the celebration that as many as 25,000 people will probably travel to Tivoli to take part in his celebration.

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