[ritchiebaby]

Copenhagen, Denmark, is the city where the first stage, a measly 13.2km Time Trial, takes place. Kasper Schmeichel and Helena Christensen are probably it's best-known citizens. With 4kms to go, the cyclists pass The Little Mermaid, then finish on H C Andersen Boulevard near Tivoli Gardens. It seems to be a very twisty, tight course with occasional long straights, which might suit Filippo Ganni and Wout van Aert.

Stage 2 is 202km from Roskilde to Nyborg, where one of the categorised climbs reaches the dizzying heights of 83m above sea level. The later part of this stage crosses from one island (Zealand - presumably the old one) to another (Funen), so hopefully there is an 18km bridge crossing complete with crosswinds to cause havoc. I'm sure the two bridges are toll-free for pedal-cycles, but there might be a hold-up with the support cars and TV motor-cycles. I'll be watching out for Mathieu van der Poel and Sam Bennett to catch out the more fancied riders.

Stage 3 from Vejle to Sonderborg is even more benign with a top height of 61m during a race of 182km. Vjele is the birthplace of Tony Rominger, who won the Vuelta thrice and the Giro once, finishing second in Le Tour, all in the 1990s. Sonderborg is the birthplace of Niels Christiansen, currently CEO of The Lego Group. Given Le Tour's propensity for a chance to organise a photo opportunity, I'm surprised to learn that Le Tour doesn't do a tour of Legoland, only approx 25 kms away from Vjele. If they didn't do well on Stage 2, I'll be backing van der Poel and Bennett again. And that completes the participation of the Danish nation.

An amazingly early rest day sees the entourage arrive in France, bypassing Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, for Stage 4 from Dunkerque to Calais on 5 July, possibly a welcome distraction for the happy campers waiting on an exciting boat trip across Pas de Calais.