The region Sjaelland, Denmark's largest island, is an excellent destination for cyclists who enjoy Varied routes, beautiful coastlines and perfectly maintained roads. Although Denmark has no high mountains like the Alps, it offers Sjaelland a fantastic cycling experience with rolling landscapes, challenging hills and a rich cycling culture.
This island, which includes the capital Copenhagen lies, offers a mix of fast asphalt, picturesque villages and open landscapes with little traffic. Thanks to the mild climate and excellent cycling infrastructure, you can get here all year round perfect cycling. Popular areas such as the southern coastal route, the UNESCO-classified landscape around Stevns Klint and the hilly roads in the north-west near Odsherred make Sjaelland a surprisingly versatile cycling destination. Also consider Roskilde with its Viking museum (and famous rock festival).
North Shaelland offers a mix of beautiful coastal roads, rolling hills and historical sights. The famous King's Road (Kongevejen) runs through Gribskov, a beautiful forest area, and past castles such as Frederiksborg Castle and Kronborg Castle in Elsinore.
For those looking for a challenge, the region offers Odsherred one of Denmark's few hilly areas. Climb the steeper sections around Vejrhøj, where on clear days you can enjoy fantastic views of the coastline. This is also where the mountain points for the 2022 Tour were distributed.
The southern region offers long, open roads with minimal elevation changes, ideal for long endurance training. The route along Stevns Klint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a highlight for cyclists who love spectacular coastlines.
North Shaelland is one of Denmark's most beautiful and versatile cycling regions. The combination of perfectly maintained roads, varied terrain and beautiful coastlines makes it a top destination for both road cyclists as gravel riders. Whether you are looking for long, rolling roads along the coast, challenging hills or adventurous gravel routes through vast forests, North Shaelland has it all.
With Copenhagen just an hour away The region is easily accessible and offers a perfect mix of nature, history and quiet cycling routes. Below are three excellent bases from which to explore this region, with itineraries for both road bike as gravel.
The coastal route between Elsinore and Copenhagen is one of the most beautiful and popular cycling routes in Denmark. This stretch, which largely follows the coastline, offers a splendid view over the Sont, with Sweden on the other side. The roads are wide, well-maintained and perfect for long endurance workouts.
Climb from here include:
For gravel riders Hellebæk Plantation a great place to explore challenging dirt roads, with singletracks and wide gravel paths winding through the forest.
For those who like to get off the paved roads, it offers Gribskov, one of Denmark's largest forests, endless possibilities. This area lies west of Hillerød and has an extensive network of gravel and forest paths which are perfect for both long rides and technical challenges.
Tisvilde Hegn, located on the northwest coast, is another highlight for gravel riders. This former military training ground now has long, wide gravel roads which are ideal for high speeds, interspersed with more challenging sections through dunes and forests.
Gravel routes in this region:
Racing cyclists can ride from Hillerød of Helsinge towards the hilly areas of Annisse and Rågeleje ride, where the roads contain more elevation changes and challenging sections.
Hillerød is the historic heart of North Shaelland and a great base for cyclists who want to combine both nature and culture. The famous Frederiksborg Castle sets the scene for some of the region's most beautiful cycling routes.
Climb from here include:
For gravel riders, the forest paths around Store Dyrehave a perfect complement to the paved roads, with beautiful, well-trodden routes running through ancient forests.
Odsherred, located in northwestern Shaelland, is one of the few regions in Denmark where you can real altimeters can make. This area is known for its rolling landscapes, spectacular coastal views and varied terrain perfect for both road cyclists as gravel riders. Thanks to the narrow, winding roads and well-maintained cycle paths Odsherred is a fantastic destination for those who want to combine a sporty ride with beautiful nature.
This area is often called the "Danish Alps" because of its relatively steep hills that you won't find anywhere else in the country. Whether you want to test your climbing legs on the steep sections around Vejrhøj or seek a leisurely route along the fjords and beaches, Odsherred offers something unique for every type of cyclist.
Sjaelland's highest natural hill offers one of the region's most challenging climbs. Although 121 metres may not seem like much, the last few hundred metres are steeper than 10%, which makes this climb perfect for strength training. The views of the fjords and coast make the effort more than worth it.
This short but tough climb is notorious among Danish cyclists. With a gradient up to 12% over a relatively short distance, this is one of Sjaelland's toughest climbs.
A beautiful long route around the Isefjord, where you cycle alternately along open fields, forests and coastal roads. Perfect for long endurance training or a leisurely ride with breathtaking views.
For gravel riders, Odsherred offers numerous dirt roads in natural areas such as Geopark Odsherred, where wide gravel paths and technical forest trails converge.
South Shaelland is a paradise for cyclists who love long, open roads, tranquil landscapes and spectacular coastlines. Here you can cycle endlessly through agricultural areas, along fjords and on car-free roads with excellent road surfaces. Moreover, South Shaelland offers direct access to one of Denmark's most iconic structures: The Great Belt Bridge (Storebæltsbroen), an impressive 18 km-long bridge connecting Sjaelland with Funen.
South Shaelland is ideal for cyclists who are long rides at a high pace want to drive. The minimal height differences and wide roads make it perfect for tempo and aerobic workouts.
Although the bridge itself is not usually accessible to cyclists (except during special events such as the Storebælt Bridge Run), a ride along the coast towards the bridge is a must for cyclists. The open landscapes and constant sea breeze make this an ideal route for endurance training.
One of the most beautiful routes in South Shaelland runs along Stevns Klint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with spectacular chalk cliffs. The road is undulating and offers beautiful views over the Baltic Sea.
This 120 km route runs along fjords, open plains and through small villages. Ideal for long days in the saddle and training a constant cadence.
For gravel riders, South Shaelland offers excellent routes in natural areas such as Møn and Stevns Klint, where you can drive for miles on wide gravel roads with minimal disruption from cars.
Although Sjaelland has no long climbs like the Col du Galibier or Alpe d'Huez, it has unique advantages for cyclists:
Whether you have a Climbing training seeks in Odsherred, fast blocks want to drive in South Shaelland or long adventures on gravel roads makes, cycling on Sjaelland offers endless possibilities. This is the perfect destination for cyclists who love good roads, quiet nature and challenging routes without the hustle and bustle of well-known mountainous cycling areas.
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