Lorena Wiebes makes comeback after Giro disqualification, defending champion Jordi Meeus faces tough opposition – Copenhagen Sprint contenders

Lorena Wiebes is set to make a strong return to racing at the Copenhagen Sprint Women’s event this weekend after her controversial disqualification from the Giro d’Italia Women due to an underweight bike. The Dutch sprinter, who won the inaugural Copenhagen Sprint in 2025, remains the overwhelming favourite given her dominance in the women’s peloton and the added motivation to prove herself following the Giro incident. Despite the absence of some WorldTour teams, including FDJ United-Suez and Movistar, the race is expected to be fast and technical, favouring pure sprinters like Wiebes. Elisa Balsamo, who capitalised on Wiebes’ absence at the Giro by winning four stages, is considered the primary challenger, although she has rarely beaten Wiebes in recent seasons. Charlotte Kool, another strong contender, has previously out-sprinted Wiebes but has struggled to keep pace with her current form. Other notable names expected to contest the podium include Chiara Consonni and Zoe Bäckstedt from Canyon-SRAM, as well as emerging talents like Nienke Veenhoven and Maggie Coles-Lyster. Danish fans will also be eager to support former world champion Amalie Dideriksen, who races on home soil. On the men’s side, defending champion Jordi Meeus returns to a much deeper field, with all 18 WorldTour teams present and a host of top sprinters aiming to make their mark ahead of the Tour de France. Meeus, who has already secured four wins in 2026, will face stiff competition from riders such as Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen, both seeking to regain their winning form before the summer’s grand tours. The race’s fast, flat parcours with technical corners promises an exciting showdown among some of the sport’s best sprinters. Several sprinters coming off the Giro d’Italia will also be looking to assert themselves in Copenhagen. Jonathan Milan, who finished the Giro strongly with a stage win in Rome, will be eager to maintain his momentum, while Dylan Groenewegen and Tobias Lund Andresen hope to bounce back from disappointing performances in Italy. The race offers a crucial opportunity for these riders to fine-tune their sprinting ahead of the Tour de France, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the weekend’s competition. Overall, the Copenhagen Sprint events this weekend provide a rare mid-season sprinting spectacle, bridging the gap between two of cycling’s biggest races. With Wiebes aiming for redemption and Meeus defending his title against a formidable field, the races are poised to deliver high-speed, tactical battles on the streets of Denmark’s capital. Fans can expect thrilling finishes and a glimpse of the sprinters’ form as the season progresses toward its summer crescendo.