Copenhagen Sprint 2026
14.06
Jasper Philipsen won the 2026 Copenhagen Sprint after his Alpecin Premier Tech teammates guided him through a chaotic finale. A huge crash split the peloton with 18.5 kilometres remaining, while heavy rain allowed the breakaway to stay clear until the final kilometre. Philipsen then overtook Tobias Lund Andresen in the closing metres, with Sam Welsford finishing third.
How to watch the Copenhagen Sprint?
Curious about how to watch the 2026 Copenhagen Sprint? Discover it in our complete how to watch guide, featuring a full overview of all broadcasters and streaming options.
Route
The 2026 Copenhagen Sprint starts in Roskilde and covers 228.2km before finishing in the Danish capital. After leaving Roskilde, the peloton heads through the Zealand landscape, with passages near Roskilde Fjord, Frederikssund and Hillerød before turning towards Copenhagen.
The first 176km should allow a breakaway to form, but the race is expected to come alive once the riders reach the city circuit. Five laps around Copenhagen, with repeated corners and road furniture, will make positioning crucial. The route is not especially selective, but the distance, speed and possible wind could still create splits before the expected sprint finish
Read more about the race in our preview
Favourites
A home victory would be a major moment for Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), who gives the Danish fans one of their clearest chances of celebrating a local winner. His speed and 2026 form make him a serious contender, although his Giro d’Italia left a few question marks.
For Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Copenhagen offers another chance to underline his status as one of the fastest sprinters in the peloton. The Belgian will be looking to sharpen his sprint ahead of the Tour de France.
Then there is Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech). After a difficult start to the season, he found his rhythm later in the spring with wins at Nokere Koerse and Gent-Wevelgem. Having chosen the Baloise Belgium Tour over the Tour de Suisse to focus on speed, Copenhagen could offer another confidence boost before the Tour.
Defending champion Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) also deserves close attention. He knows how to handle the Copenhagen finale, but the depth of this year’s sprint field makes a repeat victory a difficult task.
Other names to watch include Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Ethan Vernon (NSN).
Read more about the favourites in our preview and explore the full start list here.
