At the age of four, we began our journey together. I still remember the feeling of freedom and excitement when I took off the side wheels for the first time. It was as if I were flying. That sense of flight, of boundless possibility, stayed with me through the years, guiding me through every twist and turn in my career.
I spent countless hours riding with my brother and father in the rolling hills of Silkeborg, a small town in Denmark that became the backdrop for my earliest memories on two wheels. Back then, I got dropped over and over again—struggling to keep up with their pace. But instead of discouraging me, those early struggles laid the foundation for my 18-year long career. They taught me to push past my limits, to persevere, and to never give up.
One of the most unforgettable moments of my career came in 2012, at the Giro d’Italia. I’ll never forget the sheer euphoria I felt when we crossed the line and won a stage. It was a dream come true. I still remember the joy, the pride, the emotion, as if every pedal stroke had led to that one defining moment. And in that moment, I wasn’t alone. You were with me—every second, every kilometer, every heartbeat of that incredible journey.
But for every triumph, there have been moments of hardship. In the final stage of the Giro d’Italia 2016, I suffered a crash that changed everything. I broke my shoulder, six ribs, three vertebrae, and punctured a lung. It was the hardest moment of my career. . That moment of pain, of suffering, became one of the most defining chapters of my life. It reminded me of just how much I had learned on this incredible journey with you.
Cycling, you have shown me my greatest triumphs and my deepest pains. The highs and lows, the moments of joy and suffering—this is what makes you so much more than just a sport. It’s a way of life. We have done almost a million kilometers together, you are a part of me.
Cycling—thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve given me. You have shaped me in ways I could never have imagined. You have taught me lessons about resilience, about joy, and about the power of pushing through when everything feels impossible. You have been with me through every twist and turn, every challenge, every victory, and every loss. Thank you for everything you have given me.
Without you, I would not be myself.