Stage 1 of the Tour of Denmark covers 197.2 km departing and finishing in Aalborg on a hilly profile with a flat finale, suiting riders who can handle punchy climbs before contesting a bunch sprint or small-group finish. As a 2.Pro event, the race attracts a mix of Continental and ProTeam riders, many of them Danish or Scandinavian specialists. The flat finish means sprinters with hilly legs will have a key advantage if a large group comes home together.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Marcus Sander Hansen stands alone at the top of this preview. His average finishing position of 6.6 across five similar-profile races, complete with a victory, is head and shoulders above the rest of this field. His Hills rating of 69 is not the highest on paper, but no one else has translated raw stats into results as effectively in recent months.
BHS-PL Beton
BHS-PL Beton
Marcus Sander Hansen is the standout pick with an exceptional average finishing position of 6.6 across 5 hilly-profile races, including a win in the last 90 days. His Hills stat of 69 is backed by elite recent form that no other rider in this field can match.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Anders Foldager and Milan Menten are the two strongest contenders behind the favorite. Foldager leads the Hills stat at 75 and has two podiums in similar races, while Menten's best finish of 5th and two top-10s across five outings show consistent delivery on hilly terrain. Both represent serious stage-win threats.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Anders Foldager leads the Hills stat ranking at 75 and has recorded two podiums in similar-profile races over the last 90 days, with a best finish of 2nd. He is confirmed to start the Tour of Denmark and arrives as one of the highest-rated riders in the field.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Milan Menten carries a Hills rating of 73 and has a best finish of 5th in hilly races recently, with two top-10 results across five outings. He is a reliable performer for Lotto Intermarché on terrain like this.
★★
Dark Horses
Jakob Söderqvist, Casper Pedersen, and Toon Aerts occupy the dark horse tier. Söderqvist's raw Hills stat of 74 and a recent win make him dangerous, while Pedersen brings WorldTour pedigree from Soudal Quick-Step. Aerts has the most hilly-race experience in the field and has shown he can reach the podium on this type of terrain.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Casper Pedersen rates 73 on Hills for Soudal Quick-Step and brings WorldTour experience to this 2.Pro event, making him a dangerous outsider on a hilly stage finishing in Aalborg. His form data is limited but his raw stats are among the best in the field.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Jakob Söderqvist has the second-highest Hills stat in the field at 74 and has claimed a win in similar-profile races in recent months. His average position of 54.7 is dragged down by DNFs, but his ceiling is clearly high.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Toon Aerts posts a Hills stat of 73 and has a podium among 14 hilly-profile races recently, including a best finish of 2nd. His volume of racing and consistency make him a credible dark horse.
★
Ones to Watch
Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen, Morten Nørtoft, Matyáš Kopecký, and Christopher Juul-Jensen are the ones to watch. Each brings competitive Hills stats between 69 and 73, and the flat finish means any of them could feature in a bunch kick or late move. They represent good-value picks for fantasy rosters at lower price points.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Christopher Juul-Jensen brings a Hills stat of 71 and strong Climbing at 71 for Jayco AlUla, offering versatility on a profile that may suit a late attacker. His experience at WorldTour level adds tactical value.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Matyáš Kopecký holds a Hills rating of 73 and a Sprint of 73, giving him dual threat potential on a hilly stage with a flat run-in. He has shown flashes in similar races despite an average position dragged back by volume.
ColoQuick
ColoQuick
Morten Nørtoft rates 71 on Hills for local team ColoQuick and will benefit from home crowd support in Aalborg. Two hilly-profile races in recent form show limited data but his raw stat is competitive.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen has a Hills stat of 69 and a Sprint of 74, making him well-suited to a hilly stage with a flat finish. He could feature if a reduced group contests the finale.
Verdict
Marcus Sander Hansen is the clear top favorite based on outstanding recent form — a win and three podiums in five hilly races — while Anders Foldager and Milan Menten are the strongest challengers from the stat sheet and recent results.