During the presentation of the riders in Copenhagen, he was not the Dane most applauded by his compatriots. He was even far behind a Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), who received an ovation. But since then, Magnus Cort Nielsen has caught up well, and with style. At 29, the native of Bornholm has become the darling of the Danish public on the Tour de France, present in large numbers on the side of the roads to see his polka dot jersey for the best climber.
“It’s great to be in Denmark with this jersey. A dream comes true. It’s a totally new experience for me, I love it”, testified the rider on the morning of the third stage. He was adorned with peas at the end of the second stage of this Grande Boucle, taking the lead at the top of the three difficulties of the day. “Saturday, the idea was to take the breakaway to take the jersey“, he confessed Sunday morning before the start. In front of his parents, the EF Education-EasyPost even raised his arms at the top of the third bump, and harangued the crowd, as if he had just won the stage.
“I was so happy to take this jersey, to win the sprint. Why not celebrate? It was a victory.”
Magnus Cort Nielsen, wearer of the polka dot jerseyat franceinfo: sport
“It’s great, I still hope to go in the breakaway with this very special shirt”, he warned at the start on Sunday morning. Word kept. If the day before, Pierre Rolland, Cyril Barthe and Sven Erik Bystrom had accompanied him, no one followed him on the third stage. Left free by a peloton who had understood his intentions, Magnus Cort Nielsen collected three new small points before slowing down to return to the ranks.
Polka dot jersey on the shoulders, the Dane Magnus Cort Nielsen is the first striker of the day! #TDF2022
Live: https://t.co/gh82Toy55O pic.twitter.com/gnJ5pLluAl
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) July 3, 2022
In two days, he spent almost seven hours at the head of the race. Time for the man with six stage victories on the Vuelta and one on the Tour (in 2018) to make a name for himself on his land.
Incredible popular fervor still today in Denmark! Magnus Cort Nielsen gets a standing ovation from the crowd. #TDF2022
Live: https://t.co/gh82Toy55O pic.twitter.com/4Pt9vVNjQN
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) July 3, 2022
The following ? Magnus Cort Nielsen should keep his polka dot jersey until the Super Planche des Belles Filles on Friday, before resuming his role as teammate. But no matter: his Tour is already successful.
With information from Hortense Leblanc