Paris 2024: Denmark’s Martin Heggelund no stranger to cycling in France

Danish Para road cyclist Martin Heggelund is making his Paralympic debut in Paris, six years after going on his own mini Le Tour de France adventure.   

The 40-year-old and his father Mogens rode a tandem bicycle more than a thousand kilometres from Bjaeverskov (near Copenhagen) Denmark, to Paris, France in 2018.  

“We began to ride to Germany,” he said.  

“We had eight stages.”  

He said the highlight was pedalling Belgium's most iconic cycling climb - Mur de Huy – which is 1.3 kilometres and has a gradient that ramps up to a whopping 26 per cent at its steepest.  

It features as the grueling culmination for the Flèche Wallonne and Flèche Wallonne Féminine one-day professional road races and was a stage in the 2015 Le Tour de France.  

Heggelund and the 24 other riders timed their cycle trip to coincide with the eve of Tour riders arriving in Paris.  

“It was an experience to ride on the Champs-Élysées,” he said.  

Sadly, a blistered toe from his cycling shoes meant Heggelund couldn’t walk to see the pros and had to stay in the hotel and watch it on television.  

“We cut a hole in my shoe after the third or fourth stage,” he said.  

Pedal to the metal  

Heggelund is hoping to have better luck in Paris this time around as he gears up to compete in the men's T1-2 individual time trial and road race.  

“The time trial is my best event because I’m not that used to riding together with others,” he said.  

“I prefer riding alone.”  

He has cerebral palsy and will ride a three-wheel red racer in Paris, which helps him with balance.  

It’s a challenge to stay focused the whole way, he said.  

“I have to focus on the road and only the road, the whole way,” he said.  

“I feel calm. I’m taking it day by day.”  

He joked that it’s true red bikes go faster.  

“I love the speed,” he said.  

Heggelund started training seriously under a professional coach four years ago with a structured program and nutrition plan.  

“Living like a pro,” his dad joked.  

Bike crazy Danes  

Denmark is a bike-obsessed nation, with Danes frequently riding to work in the snow and heavy rain.  

“Danes always ride bikes because they like nature, sun, fresh air,” he said.  

The tiny country punches above its weight on the international cycle circuit with big names like Mads Pedersen and Jonas Vingegaard, who won back-to-back Le Tour de France titles in 2022 and 2023.  

“I used to watch the tour every day on television, but now I’m too busy training myself,” he joked.  

Heggelund fell in love with cycling when his parents bought a tandem bike in the late 1980s.  

“It’s incredible to represent your country. You want to give it all you have because you’re wearing Denmark’s red and white,” he said.  

“When you see Danish flags in the crowd it makes you go faster.”  

He’s also proud to be a role model for people with disabilities in Denmark.  

“I’m a little shy,” he said.  

“I don’t speak out loud much. I let my cycling do the talking.”  

Catch Heggelund in action on 4 and 7 September at Clichy-sous-Bois.