Tour of Denmark 2025

[Jeremy McCreary]

HBO Max is streaming the 5-stage Tour of Denmark with 2 interesting TNT callers. Stage 3 coming up. Replays available.

Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen are probably the biggest names there. Most World Tour teams represented. Also a lot of Danish riders looking to make their mark.

So far, the terrain has been generally flat to gently rolling with a few uncategorized climbs here and there. Little action much of the time, leaving the 2 quite knowledgeable TNT callers time to discuss all facets of European pro racing and journalism.

So one reason to watch, for me at least: It's a real education in racing strategy, rider and team economics, race videography, controversies surrounding the motorcycles and feed zones, reasons for the steady increase in speeds in recent years, etc.

Stage 1 was also interesting for 3 mid-race "local loops" that repeatedly forced the peloton through a very narrow hairpin — flat going in, very steep coming out. This one feature shaped the entire race and led to a very exciting finish.

 

[Chargeride]

Cant wait for the big climbs, those two shou...oh hang on.

 

[stompandgo]

I don't have HBO Max so I'm not watching it. Who are the TNT announcers?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I don't have HBO Max so I'm not watching it. Who are the TNT announcers?

Haven't heard their names, but not Robbie (former Australian rider who called the TdF). Sounds like one's been a rider and race director.

Good for me because, as you know, I'm still learning how all this works.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Cant wait for the big climbs, those two shou...oh hang on.

Yeah, the big Ice Age ice sheets pretty much ground Denmark down to a nub. Still, a lot of nice scenery — especially along the Baltic coast.

No surprise that when they needed to block sideroads onto the course, they just hauled in giant pieces of farm equipment.

 

[stompandgo]

Haven't heard their names, but not Robbie (former Australian rider who called the TdF). Sounds like one's been a rider and race director.

Good for me because, as you know, I'm still learning how all this works.

Robby McEwen. He used to call for Eurosport.

 

[stompandgo]

Next season, I'm going to have to rethink my streaming strategy. Missing half of the great races isn't a good one. I have the annual Peacock no ads, but we could drop it and go month to month to help pay for Max.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Next season, I'm going to have to rethink my streaming strategy. Missing half of the great races isn't a good one. I have the annual Peacock no ads, but we could drop it and go month to month to help pay for Max.

Pretty cheap to sign up for a month of two of racing season coverage then cancel. Tour of Germany's August 20-24 with some heavy hitters signed up. Will overlap 2 days of Vuelta, which starts August 23. Who needs sleep anyway?

Philipsen got 4th in Stage 2 but may not be 100% after his big TdF crash. This really is a cruel and dangerous sport.

The Denmark organizers seem to have less regard for rider safety than usual, and there have been many crashes. That nasty hairpin pinch point on Stage 1's local loop made for exciting watching but put every peloton rider at risk — not once but 3 times!!

IMO, a rider's fate should never depend more on luck and the actions of those around them than on their own skill and W/kg.

 

[stompandgo]

Agreed, but "epic" has been prioritized over "challenging". My take is that has been driven by social media and extreme sport involvement from companies like Red Bull. It buys eyeballs. NASCAR, IRL, and F1 are all in with them. Racing keeps getting faster and faster, and even as safety has improved, crashing has become expected. Media motorcycles get close enough to the riders to affect the racing, but the organizers are OK with it because media gets sponsors. Race strategy is based around avoiding crashes rather than maximizing all opportunities. I don't see this changing anytime soon.

The Giro is notorious for dangerous stages.