road bicycle race
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators. The two most common ...
, held in ''
Midtjylland
The Central Denmark Region ( da, Region Midtjylland), or more directly translated as the Central Jutland Region and sometimes simply Mid Jutland, is an administrative region of Denmark established on 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish muni ...
'', Denmark.
The race is organised by Herning Bicycle Club with both start and goal in
Herning
Herning () is a Danish town in the Central Denmark Region of the Jutland peninsula. It is the main town and the administrative seat of Herning Municipality. Herning has a population of 50,565 (1 January 2022)gravel paths, which result in multiple punctures for the racers.
The many paths and defects makes the race very selective, and it is often won by a solo rider or from a small group.
Grand Prix Herning gained prominence with
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis (; born 3 April 1964), nicknamed ''The Eagle from Herning'' ( da, Ørnen fra Herning), is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France. For many years he was the owner and lat ...
's victories in 1996 (the same year that he won
Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...
), 1997 and 1998.
For several years the race was run as part of the UCI's calendar, with a fixed spot for the coming spring. It has gained the nickname "A spring day at the heath" (''En Forårsdag på heden'') with the hidden hint to Jørgen Leth's film on
Paris–Roubaix
Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the 'Monuments' or classics of the ...
, ''
A Sunday in Hell
''A Sunday in Hell'' (original title: ''En Forårsdag i Helvede'') is a 1976 Danish documentary film directed by Jørgen Leth. The film is a chronology of the 1976 Paris–Roubaix bicycle race from the perspective of participants, organizers and s ...
'' (''En Forårsdag i Helede'').
The race has had multiple economic problems and was not held in 2008. The race was returned in 2009, and was held until another break again in 2012 due to the ''Giro D’Italia'' start*11 in the city. In 2013 the race was run as a UCI race for the last time.
In 2014 the race got a helping hand from the
Danish Cycling Federation
The Danish Cycling Federation or DCU (in Danish: ''Danmarks Cykle Union'') is the national governing body of cycle racing in Denmark.
The DCU is a member of the UCI and the UEC.
See also
* Cycling Embassy of Denmark
* Cycling in Denmark
* Cy ...
which wrote the race in as part of the Post Cup (today known as the PostNord Cup). The race is now a returning part of the Danish Cup Series.
Gravel paths
Updated 2016
Point scale
Winners
Comments
"Genius Race. Really impressive. International Cut. Supreme by Herning Bicycle Club. Five stars out of five".
Jens Veggerby
Jens Veggerby (born 20 October 1962) is a retired Danish cyclist. During his professional career that spanned 15 years from 1984 to 1999 he competed in 89 six-day races and won 13 of them: in Copenhagen (1989, 1991, 1993 and 1997), Antwerp (1992 ...
, Herning Folkeblad '. 24 May 1993.
"A good race, faintly similar to Paris–Roubaix."
Frédéric Moncassin
Frédéric Moncassin (born 26 September 1968) is a French former road racing cyclist. He turned professional in 1990 and retired in 1999. He competed in the men's individual road race at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Moncassin was a strong roadman ...
, ''Herning Folkeblad''. 12 June 1995.
"A Body-painted Price girl, VIP Bus with refreshments, a Member of Parlament (Folketinget) as speaker and the written program, as was laying and waiting at your hotelroom and a resultlist at the same place after the race. What else can you demand? A bikerace in topclass!" Henrik Elmgreen, ''Cycling'', 19 May 1996
"There are also Tennisplayers that arent so good on pavel." Jens Veggerby's Comment after having been set on a Pavelroad, 11 May 1997
"This is no doubt the best bet on a grand Danish bikerace."
Rolf Sørensen
Rolf Sørensen (born 20 April 1965) is a former Danish professional road bicycle racer. He is currently working as a cycling commentator and agent. Born in Helsinge in Denmark, Sørensen moved to Italy at the age of 17, where he has lived since ...
, ''Jyllands-posten'', 25 May 1998
"I am very happy to win this. Denmarks biggest Bikerace." Bjarne Riis, BT, 25 May 1998
"This is a Great race, but it is very nice to know the roads in advance."
Jesper Skibby
Jesper Skibby (born 21 March 1964 in Silkeborg, Denmark) is a retired professional road racing cyclist. He won at least one stage at each of the major tours. He was one of the most popular in Denmark, not only because of his talent, but also bec ...
, ''Herning Folkelblad'', 25 May 1998
"The race are the nicest race I have participated in on Danish soil." Rolf Sørensen, ''Herning Folkeblad'', 25 May 1998
"The race are perfect – this could well develop to the first Danish World Cup race." Chairman for DCU, Peder Pedersen, ''Herning Folkeblad'', 25 May 1998
"A bad racer will not win Grand Prix Midtbank, but good racers can be knocked out by accident." Henrik Elmgreen, ''Cycling'', 15 May 1998
"The entire race seems very wellorganised." Chief Commissioner Michael Andersson, Herning Folkeblad, 18 May 2000
"This was one of the coolest race i have raced, Love the comibnation with the Gravel Paths, A race for Men, Like Paris–Roubaix."
Kurt Asle Arvesen
Kurt Asle Arvesen (born 9 February 1975) is a Norwegian former professional road bicycle racer, who competed as a professional between 1998 and 2011. Arvesen is from Eresfjord, Nesset. He won the Norwegian National Road Race Championships five tim ...