Cycling Facts About Denmark

• Denmark has more than 16,000 kilometres of cycle paths.
• Denmark’s first cycle path was established in 1892 on Esplanaden in Copenhagen, as a response to the growing number of cyclists who, since the 1880s, had put pressure on the city’s bridle paths. Already the following year, in 1893, the first cycle path outside the capital was established, when Aarhus Bicycle Club built a private cycle path from the centre of Aarhus to the newly constructed cycle track in Risskov.
• In West Jutland, the cycle path between Ringkøbing and Søndervig was opened in 1923 – and was the country’s first toll cycle path. Some distance along the path, a barrier had been installed where a gatekeeper charged a small amount for passage.
• Copenhagen ranks at the very top as one of the world’s best cycling cities – and throughout the country you will experience the same cycle-friendly conditions as in the capital.
• Almost all Danes own at least one bicycle – and approximately 15% of all transport takes place by bicycle.
• The first national cycle route, Hærvejen – now National Cycle Route No. 3 – was established in 1988 and later became a significant source of inspiration for EuroVelo – the European cycle route network.
• Today there are 11 national cycle routes distributed across the country. The total length of the routes exceeds 4,000 kilometres.
• The Tour de France started in Denmark in 2022 – and three weeks later Jonas Vingegaard stood on the top step of the podium in Paris as the winner of the world’s largest cycling race.
• The UCI Road World Championships will be held in Denmark in 2029 – and there is a clear historical link back to the very first Road World Championships, which were held in Copenhagen in 1921.