“A hill used by mountain bikers?” That might be your first thought. But Geels Bakke is more than just a hill. It’s a gateway and a testament to Danish road engineering.
Welcome to Geels Bakke. This hill near Geels Skov is crossed by Kongevejen. That is secondary route 201. It lies in Holte. That is 15 km north of Copenhagen.
Back in 1764, Frederik 5 brought in Jean Marmillod. He was a French engineer and road expert. The king wanted better roads to and from Copenhagen. Geels Bakke was one of the areas Marmillod improved. He made all roads as straight as possible.
Notice how the road widens here. This four-lane road with crawler lanes and a wide median strip presents a grand entrance to Copenhagen. The forest on both sides adds to the effect. Geels Bakke is a scenic introduction to the capital.
Cyclists know Geels Bakke well. A stretch of Kongevejen on the hill’s south side rises 21 meters over nearly 600 meters. The slope is almost 4%. The finish line for the road cycling world championships was on top of Geels Bakke in 2011.
Take a look around. You might spot cyclists testing their limits. They are trying to conquer Geels Bakke. The hill attracts many people.
Also note the milestone. In 2008, a copy of Frederik 5’s two-mile marble milestone was placed here. It stands in its original spot. The original is at the Frilandsmuseet in Kongens Lyngby.
Geels Bakke is more than just a cyclist’s challenge. It is a piece of Danish history. It showcases road engineering. It marks a gateway to Copenhagen. Its slopes tell tales of kings and cyclists. It all blends into the landscape. The combination creates a unique place.