Thousands and thousands of people cheered Jonas Vingegaard as he drove from Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport in a convertible towards the city centre, where he then wore his yellow jersey as overall winner of the Tour de France on the balcony of Copenhagen City Hall.
Vingegaard is lost for words
"A thousand thanks to everyone who has supported me over the past three weeks. A thousand thanks!" the professional cyclist shouted to the crowd on the Rådhuspladsen from the balcony. He was visibly at a loss for words.
On Vingegaard's way towards the centre of Copenhagen, the Amager district almost resembled the legendary arrival at the Tour mountain stage to Alpe d'Huez with fans standing close together.
National anthem is played
Vingegaard high-fived many people from the passenger seat, while his girlfriend Trine and daughter Frida sat in the back seat. Many people waved red and white Danish flags, while others cycled alongside the vehicle in the cycling-loving capital. The crowd in the town hall square also sang the national anthem with him.
Further celebrations were planned later at the nearby Tivoli amusement park, where up to 25,000 people were expected. On Thursday, the professional from Jumbo-Visma then continues with a celebration in his home town of Glyngøre in Jutland. The police are expecting up to 10,000 people to attend.
Vingegaard celebrates second Danish Tour de France victory
On Sunday, Vingegaard became the second Dane after Bjarne Riis to win the Tour de France - fittingly in the year in which the world's biggest cycling tour started for the first time in Copenhagen.
Riis had triumphed in the 1996 Tour as captain of the German Telekom team and had also been cheered by crowds in Denmark afterwards. He later admitted to extensive doping.
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