Stage 4 of the Tour of Denmark covers 172.6 km from Rudkøbing to Faaborg in a hilly profile that ends with a flat finish, a classic setup that rewards puncheurs and versatile sprinters who can survive the climbs. The stage is part of a 2.Pro-ranked stage race, ensuring a competitive field of WorldTour and Pro team riders. The flat finale means the finish is likely to come down to a reduced bunch sprint or a late attack from a small breakaway group.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Wout van Aert is in a class of his own here. His Hills 77 leads the entire startlist, and his Sprint 76 and TT 79 mean he can win from a breakaway, a reduced group sprint, or a solo effort. Visma's team strength adds another layer of dominance, and his confirmed participation makes him the undisputed pick.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Wout van Aert tops the startlist with a Hills rating of 77 and an exceptional all-around profile (Sprint 76, TT 79, Cobbles 80), making him the standout favorite on a hilly stage with a flat finish perfectly suited to his explosive finishing ability. As a Legendary-rated rider confirmed for the PostNord Tour of Denmark, he is the clear benchmark against which all others are measured.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Christophe Laporte and Nils Eekhoff both combine solid Hills ratings (74 and 73) with meaningful Sprint punch (73 and 74 respectively), the exact profile this stage demands. Laporte benefits from Visma's race control, while Eekhoff gives Picnic PostNL a genuine card to play if the peloton stays together over the final climbs.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Christophe Laporte (Hills 74, Sprint 73, TT 74) is a powerful classics-style rider who thrives on hilly terrain with a fast finish, and his Visma team will have the numbers to position him perfectly in the finale. His Epic rarity and well-rounded stats make him van Aert's most dangerous teammate-turned-rival if racing dynamics split the squad.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Nils Eekhoff (Hills 73, Sprint 74) is a strong and versatile rider for Picnic PostNL who can punch over short climbs and finish fast, making him a credible contender on this hilly profile with a flat run-in. His Sprint edge over many rivals at this tier gives him a genuine chance if the front group comes together.
★★
Dark Horses
Tibor del Grosso, Søren Kragh Andersen, and Lukáš Kubiš each bring a distinct edge: del Grosso has the raw Hills ceiling and a proven best of 4th, Kragh Andersen brings home-race motivation and TT backup, and Kubiš packs the strongest sprint in this tier at 75. Any of the three could capitalize on a chaotic finale.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Lukáš Kubiš (Hills 73, Sprint 75) possesses the highest Sprint rating among the 73-Hills tier, a key differentiator on a stage likely to end in a reduced bunch sprint after the hills. His Epic rarity signals above-average quality, and a Sprint 75 means he can beat most rivals if he arrives at the line with the front group.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Søren Kragh Andersen (Hills 74, Sprint 73, TT 73) is a proven Danish classics-style rider competing on home roads at the Tour of Denmark, which adds a strong motivational factor. His balanced profile suits a hilly stage with a flat finish, and Lidl-Trek will be active in shaping the race.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Tibor del Grosso (Hills 75, Cobbles 75) carries the joint-second-highest Hills rating in the field and has demonstrated consistent results in similar-profile races with a best finish of 4th. Despite modest recent average positions (24.8 over 9 races), his raw stat ceiling and Epic rarity make him a legitimate dark horse.
★
Ones to Watch
Anders Foldager's 2 podiums in similar races make him the most form-backed outsider, while Nick Schultz's Hills 75 gives him the physical tools to be dangerous. Tim Torn Teutenberg and Casper van Uden are pure sprint threats: if the climbs fail to shatter the bunch, van Uden's Sprint 77 in particular could catch everyone off guard.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Anders Foldager (Hills 75, Sprint 72) shares the second-best Hills rating and has posted 2 podiums and 4 top-10s in similar-profile races with a best finish of 2nd, showing genuine capability on this terrain. His average position of 34.8 limits his tier, but the podium pedigree keeps him firmly in the mix as an outsider to watch.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Casper van Uden (Hills 71, Sprint 77) boasts the highest Sprint rating of any non-van Aert rider in the field, and if the hilly parcours doesn't split the race completely, he becomes a serious threat in a reduced sprint. His Epic card for Picnic PostNL gives the team a dual card to play alongside Eekhoff.
NSN Cycling
NSN Cycling
Nick Schultz (Hills 75) matches Foldager's Hills rating and brings solid all-around ability for NSN Cycling, a team with multiple riders capable of setting tempo. He lacks standout recent form data in the hills filter but his raw stat puts him among the best-equipped riders for this profile.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Tim Torn Teutenberg (Hills 72, Sprint 75) has the second-highest Sprint rating among the 72-Hills group, and his Epic rarity signals top-shelf quality for Lidl-Trek alongside Kragh Andersen. A fast finish on rolling terrain is precisely where his profile shines brightest.
Verdict
Wout van Aert is the overwhelming favorite, combining the top Hills rating with elite sprint and TT credentials that make him nearly unbeatable on this profile. Laporte and Eekhoff are the most credible challengers, while del Grosso, Kragh Andersen, and Kubiš lurk as dangerous dark horses.