The PostNord Tour of Denmark 2026 opens under the sign of Wout van Aert. Outsprinting the seven men with whom he had gained an advantage in the final, the Belgian from Team Visma Lease a Bike conquered the first stage of the Danish Pro race, the Aalborg-Aalborg of 197.2 kilometers, demonstrating that he has acquired excellent leg strength through the altitude training carried out in Livigno in recent weeks.

Behind the Belgian, who thanks to his third success of the season (the 54th of his professional career) also became the first leader of the short Scandinavian stage race, finished in order Lukáš Kubíš (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Henrik Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility), who could do nothing against the explosive acceleration of the master from Herentals.

THE RACE

After a series of attacks and counterattacks and passing the first intermediate sprint in Brønderslev (won by Frank Aron Ragilo of Lucky Sport Cycling Team), an initial attempt composed of Conrad Haugsted (Team Coloquick), Matias Malmberg (Swatt Club), Asger Røjbek Sørensen (BHS - PL Beton Bornholm), Antonio Polga (Team Novo Nordisk) and Theodor Clemmensen (Denmark) takes shape but is quickly neutralized by the group. More fortunate, launching a counterattack, are subsequently Manuel Oioli (Swatt Club), Daniel Stampe (BHS - PL Concrete Bornholm), Marius Hobolth (Give Steel) and Mads Landbo (ColoQuick) who, joined shortly after by Matias Malmberg (Swatt Club), quickly find good agreement and manage to stay in the lead for about seventy kilometers, competing for the intermediate sprints in Pandrup (1st Hobolt) and Slettestrand (1st Landbo).

The pace of the stage is disrupted at this point by a crash involving 40 riders that splits the peloton into two sections, forcing the men remaining in the back (among them Søren Kragh Andersen, Lukáš Kubíš and Wout van Aert) to chase for a long fifteen kilometers before regrouping with the first part of the group. Just before the two groups rejoin, taking advantage of the hesitation among the leaders are Sebastian Nielsen (Team ColoQuick) and the duo in Swatt Club colors Mads Andersen-Matias Malmberg who, gaining ground at the right moment, pull away.

Behind, however, once the situation has regrouped and after climbing the first categorized climb of the day (won by Malmberg), the teams of the sprinters (with Lotto Intermarchè and Visma Lease a Bike leading) quickly resume setting the pace to control the situation and prevent the advantage of the trio from becoming dangerous. This operation brings the leaders onto the Aalborg city circuit with 40 seconds, a margin that the group nearly completely closes on the first of three ascents of the Molleparken climb, allowing Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility) to rejoin a stubborn Malmberg and chase Nielsen, who had launched a further solo attack shortly before.

The short distance of the group led by Visma Lease a Bike means that all the attackers are caught on the second passage over Molleparken where, once again, the green-clad riders of Uno-X Mobility force the pace and attempt to break away with a small group. Their intention, also embraced by the Unibet Tose Rockets riders, means that 8 kilometers from the finish Tomáš Kopecký and Lukáš Kubíš (Unibet Tose Rockets), Christophe Laporte (Visma Lease a Bike), Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek), Pier André Côté (NSN) and Henrik Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility) manage to gain twenty-three seconds.

Behind them, passing over Molleparken for the last time, Wout van Aert (Visma Lease a Bike) makes his move and, followed like a shadow by Søren Kragh Andersen (Lidl-Trek), powers forward to close the gap, bringing the number of leaders to eight 2,600 meters from the line. The sacrifice of Laporte, Kopecký and Teutenberg guarantees the small group the chance to contest the victory in the sprint where, after the Czech from Unibet's attempt to surprise the competition, van Aert is launched perfectly by Laporte and takes his first success since June 11 (the date of his last victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).

To be updated.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) 4:10:49

2. Lukáš Kubíš (Unibet Rose Rockets) s.t.

3. Henrik Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility) s.t.

4. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl - Trek) s.t.

5. Pier-André Côté (NSN Cycling Team) s.t.

6. Christophe Laporte (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) s.t.

7. Tomáš Kopecký (Unibet Rose Rockets) s.t.

8. Søren Kragh Andersen (Lidl-Trek) s.t.

9. Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech) +0:17

10. Anders Foldager (Denmark) +0:17

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) 4:10:39

2. Lukáš Kubíš (Unibet Rose Rockets) +0:04

3. Henrik Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility) +0:06

4. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl - Trek) +0:10

5. Pier-André Côté (NSN Cycling Team) +0:10

6. Christophe Laporte (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:10

7. Tomáš Kopecký (Unibet Rose Rockets) +0:10

8. Søren Kragh Andersen (Lidl - Trek) +0:10

9. Matias Malmberg (Swatt Club) +0:22

10. Matyáš Kopecký (Unibet Rose Rockets) +0:27

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

Mountain classification: Sebastian Nielsen (Team ColoQuick)

Best young rider classification: Henrik Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility)