Vejrpigerne (The Weather Girls) sculpture on top of the Richshuset building in City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark
© Stig Alenas/Shutterstoc
Perfect day for a ride. Tour de France
As the Tour de France kicks off in Copenhagen today, riders in Stage 1 will fly past iconic landmarks of the Danish capital, like Tivoli Gardens, the Little Mermaid Statue and the Vejrpigerne sculpture, also known as The Weather Girls, featured on our homepage. Created by painter-turned-sculptor Einar Utzon-Franck in 1936, the girl on the bike used to spin out on a rotating disc if fair weather was in the forecast. But if rain was expected, she would emerge with an umbrella.
The sculpture no longer works as a barometer, but it reflects the Danes in general - always out cycling, rain or shine. The country’s heavy investment in cycle lanes and cycling-friendly infrastructure makes it the perfect starting point for the world’s most famous bike race. From here, the racers will hurtle through Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and France before tearing down the the Champs-Élysées in Paris for the final stage on 24 July.
Related Images
Elbe river in Dresden, Germany
Big Ben and Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, England
Tower Bridge in London, England
The Shard, London
Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
St Davids Cathedral, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College, University of Oxford, England
Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England
Bing Today Images
