L'Avenir is bright for Danish cycling as nation dominates opening stages of U23 Tour

Danes are well represented in the professional peloton and the future of the sport in the country looks to be in safe hands with its riders taking four of the first five stages at the Tour de l'Avenir.

The race, dubbed the under-23 version of the Tour de France, has a long history of its riders going on to great things, with the likes of Nairo Quintana, Esteban Chaves and Warren Barguil winning overall in recent years.

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With the opening stages taking part in hilly eastern France, Denmark has seen three of its riders winning stages, with Søren Kragh Andersen picking up two, including the prologue.

The 21-year-old has reportedly signed with a WorldTour team for next season and it's unsurprising given his impressive season for Continental team Trefor - Blue Water, winning a stage and coming second overall at the Tour des Fjords in May.

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Nineteen-year-old Cult Energy Pro rider Mads Pedersen won stage two, while Mads Würtz - third in the time trial at the Danish National Championships - took stage four.

With the race heading into the mountains for the final three stages, Chilean Jose Luis Rodriguez currently tops the general classification.

Britain's highest placed rider is Alex Peters, who recently signed as a stagiaire for Team Sky, a team also represented by Colombian Sebastian Henao, who sits ninth overall.