Tour De France’s green route in Denmark

Stage 1: Copenhagen

Voted the ‘World’s Best Cycling City in 2019’, Copenhagen is the first stop on the route, showcasing Amalienborg Castle, the Little Mermaid, waterfront scenes, and much more. The Danish capital also presents a slew of green sights along the opening stage.

Middelgrunden: In March 2001, Middelgrunden in Denmark became the world’s largest offshore windfarm. Consisting of 20 wind turbines each 2 MW, the 40MW wind park is situated just two km outside the Copenhagen harbour on shallow water (3-5 meters deep). This project is an example of community engagement in wind energy. It is 50% owned by the 10,000 investors in the Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Cooperative, and 50% by the municipal utility company.

Amager Resource Center & Copenhill: Amager Bakke, also known as Copenhill, is a combined heat and power waste-to-energy plant and recreational facility in Amager, Copenhagen. The facility opened in 2017, and together with a nearby biomass facility, Copenhill plays a major role in Copenhagen’s ambitions of meeting zero carbon requirements by 2025. The plant is expected to burn 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually and supply low-carbon electricity and district heating to tens of thousands of Copenhagen households. It also houses a recreational facility with an 85m (279 ft) tall sloped roof that doubles as a year-round artificial ski slope, hiking slope, and climbing wall, which opened to the public in 2019. Copenhill was named the “World Building of the Year 2021” at the annual World Architecture Festival.

The Bicycle Snake: With its clever urban adaptation, harmonic flow, and elegant structure, the Bicycle Snake has become an icon for Copenhagen’s status as the world’s leading bicycle city, and a symbol of the city’s praised urban qualities. When riding the Bicycle Snake, cyclists can pass quickly and easily through the area, experience exciting views. Copenhageners love the gently curving cycle bridge with the impressive view. This elegant, elevated path lets cyclists cross the harbour in a safe and dignified manner, underlining the city’s profile as a sustainable metropolis with a pedal-powered profile.

Copenhagen Harbour: If you go 30-35 years back, Copenhagen was an aging, indebted city with fleeing industries and inhabitants. No one wanted to live here. Focusing heavily on resilience and an inclusive urban environment for its inhabitants, it has now become one of the happiest cities in the world with a dynamic economy. From a grim, industrial city, people are now swimming in the harbours of what is expected to be the world’s first carbon neutral capital by 2025.

Stage 2: Roskilde – Nyborg

A historic start in front of Roskilde Cathedral, a windswept sprint across the Great Belt Bridge, and a spectacular finish in Nyborg – just wow. Also, when it comes to the sustainable solutions and projects that the peloton will pass.

Kalundborg Symbiosis: The world’s oldest and leading industrial symbiosis is located in Kalundborg and creates profits through a circular approach to production. Benefiting locally and inspiring the rest of the world. Kalundborg Symbiosis is a partnership between thirteen public and private companies in Kalundborg. Since 1972, the partners have developed the world’s first industrial symbiosis with a circular approach to production. The main principle is that a waste stream in one company becomes a resource in another, benefiting both the environment and the economy. By sharing and reusing resources, it is possible to both save money and minimise waste. The symbiosis creates growth in the local community and supports the green transition.

Lerchenborg Solar Park: Inaugurated in 2012, the Lerchenborg solar energy plant was Scandinavia’s biggest at the time. It consists of 248,730 individual solar panels distributed over 80 hectares (equivalent to 125 football fields). With a capacity of 61 MW, it can generate enough renewable energy to cover the annual electricity consumption of 30,000 households. Denmark aspires to quadruple its current production of solar and onshore wind energy before 2030.

Sprogø offshore wind farm: Sprogø Offshore Wind Farm is located between Danish islands Zealand and Funen. It has a 3 MW capacity which can cover the annual electricity consumption of approximately 16.000 households. Clearly visible from a neighboring bridge, 25 million. people pass by the wind farm every year. Today, Denmark’s offshore wind capacity is 2.3 GW – political agreements have been made to add 16 GW before 2050. In total, it can cover the electricity consumption of approximately 18 million European households.

Rabalder Park: Rabalder Park is a rainwater installation disguised as a park and skate area. Even though the purpose of the park is to lead rainwater away, you will also find trampolines, swings, hammocks, fitness tools, and small hills with grill and seating areas. Sculptural rain steps lead the water down to a rainwater reservoir, which is also a popular ‘hang-out’ area. The park has won several awards because of its innovative solution to rainwater challenges and has been a finalist for two international design and climate awards. Rabalder Park is open all year round and entrance is free.

Roskilde Energy Tower: A giant landmark towers alongside the highway on the ridge above Roskilde, dominating the landscape. The Energy Tower is a rust-colored wall full of holes, which wraps around a state-of-the-art combined heat and power plant. This spectacular complex and its 98-meter-high tower engage in direct dialogue with Roskilde Cathedral two km away. When the project was presented under the name “The Cathedral”, many residents found the proposed edifice overly dominating in the medieval town’s skyline. Once built, however, the Energy Tower won over many of the sceptics. As you approach the building, its peculiar geometry and heavy body become evident, resembling an aquatic creature from legendary tell tales. But the Energy Tower is particularly charming when viewed under the cover of night. The coloured light shining through the holes in the building’s facade brings the architecture to life. The two furnaces in the Energy Tower generate electricity for nearly 44,000 households and district heating for approximately 61,000 households.

Stage 3: Vejle – Sønderborg

From challenging hills in Vejle, to the historic Jelling Rune Stones, Christiansfeld UNESCO World Heritage site, and a final sprint to the finish line in Sønderborg. Riders, spectators, and cycling enthusiasts are invited to get a taste of what is (probably) the world’s greenest solutions.

Town of Sønderborg, Project Zero: ProjectZero is the vision for creating a ZEROcarbon future for the city of Sønderborg in southern Denmark by 2029 based on sustainable growth and with many new green jobs as a result. The ProjectZero concept is based on energy efficiency combined with renewable energy from the county’s own green sources. The aim is to develop a world class showcase for energy savings, best practice mindset, participation, technology, and business. The town of Sønderborg is one of three Danish cities selected amongst European trailblazers to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

Carlsberg brewery, Fredericia: Carlsberg’s brewery in Fredericia is a new, revolutionary water recycling plant that recycles 90% of the process water. This makes the Fredericia brewery the most water-efficient in the world. Learnings from the brewery will enable the group to reach its target to virtually eliminate water waste globally by 2030. With the new water recycling plant, the Fredericia brewery will save more than 500 million liters of water a year.

Solar farm Vandel: Solar farm Vandel was constructed at the site of a former military airbase and now covers the electricity demands of around 30,000+ households. The solar farm, which covers 180 hectares equalling 250 soccer fields, is located close to Billund, home of the first Legoland entertainment park.