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Race details | |
---|---|
Date | April–May |
Region | Herning, Denmark |
English name | GP Herning |
Local name(s) | Grand Prix i Herning (in Danish) |
Discipline | Road |
Competition | DCU Tour |
Type | Single-day |
Web site | www |
History | |
First edition | 1992 |
Editions | 30 (as of 2024) |
First winner | Claus Michael Møller (DEN) |
Most wins | Bjarne Riis (DEN) (3 wins) |
Most recent | Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (DEN) |
Grand Prix Herning is a one-day road bicycle race held in Midtjylland, Denmark.[1]
The race is organised by Herning Bicycle Club with both start and goal in Herning.[2]
The race is characterised by its 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's victories in 1996 (the same year that he won Tour de France), 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, A Sunday in Hell (En Forårsdag i Helvede).
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 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.[3]