Van Aert Rules Denmark Again After A Near-Perfect Comeback

Wout van Aert completed a dominant return to competition by winning the Tour of Denmark for the second time in his career. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider protected his advantage on the final 126-kilometre stage between Køge and Rødovre and secured the overall title eight years after his first victory in the race.

The Belgian had built his success during an exceptional opening half of the week, winning the first three stages on different terrain. He did not need another victory on the last day and crossed the line in 11th place after a chaotic sprint won by Denmark's Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen ahead of Max Walscheid and Tom Crabbe.

A major crash disrupted the final approach, but Van Aert avoided the incident and completed the race safely. He finished the five stages in 19 hours, 22 minutes and 23 seconds, beating Lukáš Kubiš by 21 seconds. Henrik Pedersen took third overall at 28 seconds, with Van Aert's teammate Christophe Laporte fourth.

The title is especially significant because it is Van Aert's first stage-race general classification victory since the 2023 Tour of Britain. It also confirms that he has recovered strongly from the elbow injury that interrupted his season and delayed his return to racing.

The Tour of Denmark was not Van Aert's final objective. It was an important test before the Vuelta a España, which starts in Monaco on August 22. Three stage wins and the overall title provide an emphatic answer about his condition, although the demands of a three-week Grand Tour will offer a very different challenge.