The Irish born and bred star has been best in time trials, but once he is trusted as team leader his road race results can improve massively.
While Nicolas Roche was the only Irish rider set to take part in the team time trial race at the World Championships in Spain this afternoon, a rider who slipped through Ireland’s fingers was also due into action; 25-year Chris Juul Jensen.
Born and raised in Co Wicklow but of Danish parents, the pull of his family’s homeland proved too much when he was still in his mid teens. And having raced for Ireland as a youth rider, he decided to decamp to Denmark to take advantage of the much better development opportunities there.
He was welcomed into a set-up where he was able to attend a school that developed elite athletes and where the pupils’ chosen sport was given equal billing with their lessons.
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In the past couple of seasons, Juul Jensen has been part of the Tinkoff-Saxo set-up, riding as a team mate of Roche.
His no nonsense approach and very sharp sense of humour comes out in his tweets and in his blogs for the Rouleur website. But he has also gained a large fan base for his riding style and the old-school respect he is always keen to extend to the bigger historical races.
Battling the feared Zoncolan mountain during the penultimate stage of this year's Giro d'Italia, his first Grand Tour (Photo: Sirotti)
For example, in previous eras the showers in the velodrome in Roubaix where the Paris Roubaix classic finishes became part of the folklore of the sport.
Only the giants of road made it all the way to wash the mud of the famous pave from their tired bodies in the velodrome’s basic facilities. And so a tradition began of erecting a tiny but iconic brass plate on each of the stone shower cubicles with the name of every winner and the year they won.
One small name plate is added every year. Nobody sees them but the riders who finish.
While in recent years many finishers have opted for the hot showers of their team buses parked outside the velodrome, the diehard pros who love the folklore of the sport continue the tradition of washing in the stony cold velodrome cubicles.
It is an experience Juul Jensen has made much of and written about; endearing him to fans all over the world.
On the right, riding in the breakaway for Denmark in the U23 road race at the World Championships three years ago (Photo: Sirotti)
Juul Jensen, who speaks with what could be described as a middle class Dublin accent, has grown in value to Tinkoff-Saxo in recent years; his status underlined by his selection for the team time trial this afternoon.
He was due to ride that 57.1km contest in a line-up that included Roche, who is perhaps the reverse of his young team mate in that he was born and raised in France but declared for Ireland the moment the issue of international duty even arose when he was a teenager.
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“It’s really great to be taken into consideration by Bjarne and the team knowing that they believe that I can do a good job here,” said Juul Jensen before the race.
“I’m not superstitious but I really don’t dare to say that I’m proud yet if I get dropped after 20km. I feel strong after Tour of Britain and I have a good feeling about the team’s (chances of a medal). We’re all excited and tense.”
The team test was once again included in the Worlds two years ago. Between 1962 and 1994 a 100km team time trial always took place at the Worlds and one was also included in the Olympic programme.
Juul Jensen said he was delighted to be part of the return of the event, the absence of which only seemed to make it more iconic. He added he planned to write about the experience.
“It’s a scary and great concept; six guys just pounding those pedals to the sound of humming disc wheels – succeeded and followed by teams trying to ride quicker than you.
“This is something we take seriously. If we get the machinery to work today, I believe that we can aim for a spot on the podium but no matter what I’m really proud of riding together with these guys.”
In action at the Tour of Denmark this year, where he was 3rd overall and 3rd in the time trial. Expect more results like that in the years to come when he is freed of team worker duties more frequently.
Having ridden as a team player in recent years, he is now coming to the end of his third season in the WorldTour and with such experienced banked he should land the status of protected rider, on occasion, very soon.
He has ridden aggressively and strongly in many races, with his best results this year coming in time trials; 9th in the recent Tour of Britain test, 3rd in the Tour of Denmark time trial and 2nd in the Danish time trial championships.
His rides in time trials suggest a much bigger engine and more successful adaptation to life as a pro than the rest of his results suggest. However, his road race results must be judged in the context of his duties, thus far, in the service of team leaders like Alberto Contador and on occasion Roche.
Away from time trials, Juul Jensen’s best results this year came in the Tour of Denmark (2.HC), where he was third overall and Tour de Wallonie (2.HC) where he was 6th overall and 2nd in the mountains classification.
He also rode his first Grand Tour this year in the shape of the Giro d’Italia. He is someone who should make a much bigger impact a year stronger and wiser next year, especially if he is trusted from time to time with team leadership status.
Juul Jensen has never forgotten his roots and has kept in touch with many of the friends he made cycling in Ireland, especially at his former club Sorrento CC. Seen here with Irish friends before he turned pro. From left Frank O’Leary (Bray Wheelers), Mick O’Donnell (Bray Wheelers), Mark McLeavy (Sorrento CC), Juul Jensen (Tinkoff-Saxo and Sorrento CC!) and Dermot Healy (Sorrento CC)
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