Written by Christian of Team WonderDee
  
  Welcome to the 45th edition of the Danish hill classic in 3rd division of the OCM Tour. Lot of great riders in the peloton, with the two best ranked riders off all time at the start. Vejle Cykel Klub and there sponsors have done a great job to secure a strong field of riders.
  
   The route (Copied from the race page)
  
   The 98km route contains 1500m of climbing in total and finishes on a climb up the side of the Vejle Fjord.
  
   The race starts out in central Vejle where the town's residents gather to cheer the riders off as they start their day. Their first target is the small town of Fredericia on the shores of the Kattegat. Next up is a trip along the shore of the Kolding fjord to the town of Kolding.
  
   After that flat stretch, the race turns back towards Vejle and the climbing begins in earnest with the first climb, the 1km 10% Jerlev Landevej climb.
   The first climb is not particularly tough or long. The descent is not very long and is on easy wide roads.
  
   After that climb, the race meanders through the Grejs River valley, before turning back towards Vejle for the day's challenging finishing climb.
  
   The final climb is also short -- unsurprising given Denmark's flat nature. It is just 1.5 km long but with an average gradient of 21.4%, it will cause huge gaps to open in the run to the finish. Ramps of over 25% will have riders reaching deep to keep the wheels moving. The sheer bruatlity of the climb makes for an exciting finish, and the finish line just outside of Vejle will be swollen with spectators cheering the survivors to the line.
  
   The winner will arrive at the top of the Vejle Fjord and its steep cliffs with a spectacular view of Vejle and the valleys beneath.
  
   The Weather
  
   Sunny all day with around 16 degrees during the race. The wind is coming from the north east and with a wind speed of 3,6 m/s. So we’ll not see splits in the peloton because of

the wind.
  
   The Contenders
  
   Jacob Wieringh (Hommerts Cycling Team)
   If anyone can beat Adams on the final climb, it is the boy from the Netherlands. Wieringh has enjoyed a brilliant start to season, excelling in Norway Tour, Vuelta a Valparaìso and El Espinazo del Diablo. His form on steep climbs is very good, but he does lack a little bit of the kick required to beat the Dane.
  
   Aleksander Hetland (Team WonderDee)
   Can the 38 year old Norwegian hiller legend beat the young and up coming stars? Coming in to VCK Classic bit out of his top race shape after Kangaroo Tour, where he finish 4th in the last hilly stage of the tour. The veteran needs good legs and bit of luck to win the Danish classic.
  
   Ole Uttenberger (Goege Team)
   Has the kick required to challenge for the win, especially considering his current form. The Swiss has three 3rd this season, could this be his first win of the season? His approach to the finale will be interesting, as his natural instinct is to attack. Will he roll the dice on final climb?
  
   Royce Dodemaide (Team Chill)
   An other OCM legend at start, but the resent Kangaroo Tour winner might be bit out of form after Kangaroo Tour and Torino Street Race in the week up to VCK Classic. But we will never rule out the Aussie legend.
  
   Rafa? Figura (Tashkent Browncoats)
   Has performed well this season with a 2nd in the hiller cup Cesko-Slovensky Pohar. I don’t think he can win on the final climb, but he can challenge for the podium.
  
   Adrián Torrillas (Sigue Sigue Sputnik)
   He fulfilled his

promise with well-taken win at Edmonton Red Deer Tour last season. The 27-year-old's season, however, has been a quiet one so far, with only one win in Hellur GP.
  
   Do we dare omit him from this list? No – we don't, as Tortillas’s third place at VCK Classic last year proved that he is a contender for the win.
  
   Pelle Adams (kakaolin)
   The home favorite. The Dane has finished in top 5 on two separate occasions, but he’s yet to win. He was unable to beat Walter Oswald three seasons ago, but this time around the German looks to be supporting an other Dane Eddie Toft for the Optimus Prime team. If kakaolin can put him in the right position on the final climb, he’ll have a big say in the outcome of the race.
  
   Kendrick Offutt (Peloton Pushers)
   He needs to escape the front group before the final climb to stand a chance. This won’t be easy to do.
  
   Anis Edeik (Sigue Sigue Sputnik)
   Provides Sigue Sigue Sputnik with a great second option. Winning both the Edmonton Red Deer Tour GC and YC this season. He’s normally strong on steep climbs, something that you need to be to cope in this race. Obviously, if he has to chase moves, he won’t have a chance of going for personal glory.
  
   Other contenders:
   Yoann Lagarde (M Uno)
   Nader Al Shibani (Cyclocomotiv)
   Luke Gartner / Bernard Cowell (Spin Doctors)
   Eddie Toft (Optimus Prime)
   Lasse Sunde (Pelles Cazelles)
   Joannes Van Hoeijveldt (Team Belfius)