The Grand Départ in Denmark promises to be a spectacle. The riders will start on the opening day with a 13.2 km time trial through the streets of the Scandinavian country's biggest city. Stages two and three will also take the riders through Danish territory. After the first rest day and the move to France, the riders can expect a cobbled stage in the north of France, some hilly stages and a stage to La Planche des Belles Filles in the first week.

"I am looking forward to starting in Denmark", Wout van Aert says. "The opening time trial is one of my main goals. It's a technical course with several turns, especially at the end. Normally that should suit me. Besides the first yellow jersey, I also want to fight for the green jersey in Paris. The team gives me that space. In the first week, I see several opportunities, both for winning a stage and gathering points. Over the past few years I have proven that I can perform well in several disciplines. Of course I will also do my bit to achieve the team's big goal."

Van Aert refers to Team Jumbo-Visma's yellow dream. With Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard, the team has two other top riders for the general classification. "It's itching every year when this race is about to start", Roglic says. "We start with a strong team in which every rider has his specific qualities. In the first week, we will immediately face several challenging stages. Surviving them without damage is crucial. We will be well prepared at the start."

Vingegaard will start his second Tour in his home country. "It's extra special for me that the Tour starts in Denmark. This year I will come to this race in a totally different role. I don't see that as an extra burden on my shoulders. A lot of stressful things can happen in the first week. I am convinced that with this team, we can get through it without any problems."

In week two, the peloton heads for the French Alps, with the queen stage towards Alpe d'Huez as the absolute highlight. Team Jumbo-Visma recently stayed in Tignes to prepare some stages down to the last detail. "We have had a good last training block. At the start, our leaders will be totally ready", team leader Grischa Niermann says. The German doesn't hide that his team has the necessary ambitions for the French three-week race. "Winning the yellow and green jersey. With such a strong team, we should be able to compete on several fronts", Niermann says confidently.

"Primoz and I are very good friends. The last few weeks in Tignes, we spent a lot of time together", Vingegaard says. "We also did a lot together off the bike. Our families get along very well. We enjoy our time together. That chemistry ensures that we can also work well together in the race."

Roglic confirms the close bond between him and his Danish co-captain. "Jonas and I make each other a lot stronger. With that and the fact that we have six other strong riders in the race, we will confidently start the Tour. From the beginning, it is all about one thing: the race."

For the final week, several Pyrenees stages are on the programme. They will include finishes on top of the Hautacam and the Peyragudes. On day twenty, a time trial of more than forty kilometres awaits the riders. "Course knowledge is fundamental. We already started exploring some stages in December", says Niermann. "We are not afraid of any damage or breakdowns along the way. With the preparation we have had, we believe in our own abilities. We will see where we stand in the final week. We need everyone in the team to achieve the team's goals."

Van Aert, Roglic and Vingegaard agree. "The team's goals are clear. When we use the qualities of each individual together, we have a chance to reach those goals. We have a good plan. Hopefully we can achieve the successes we want. We are ready to challenge the competition."