I got an email yesterday from a reader in Denmark, commenting on a couple of articles we've published over the past year. Denmark comes to mind whenever I think of the world's best long-course triathletes, because that little country has a lot of them.

I'm not the only one who notices this, of course. I was talking with Chris McCormack last week, and he said, "I'm glad you recognize how really good Rasmus Henning is. What talent that guy has!"

But I did overstate Henning's accomplishments a bit, as has been pointed out to me by several Slowtwitch readers. Mads Krogh Nielsen writes:

"I agree with you that Henning is highly underrated in the Tri world. This I am not only saying because I am Danish but because I have followed his preparations up to this season. He is just getting better and better. [But] he actually was not beaten by Rasmus last year [in Fredericia]. So it was not because of Rasmus' sovereignity that Peter did not win last year. It was primarily because he did not start. The year before Peter finished in the Danish record time of 8:19."

Our Danish reader also continues:

"I have a comment that I originally wanted to share with you when I read your excellent interview with Rasmus some months ago. It's your question of where all these quite good Danes comes from all of the sudden.

Now, I am just a regular 30-year-old triathlete on the Age Group level. I clocked a 10:22 in the Saturday competition this weekend so I am not a super triathlete or anything. But still I get the chance to train with some of the best in the world. And that––I'd like to point out––may be one of the reasons for the massive Danish success these years.

Whereas finding new talent is a difficult task also in Denmark, the Danish training climate is optimal. Denmark is quite a small country and nearly half of the population is assembled within 80 miles from Copenhagen. The Danish Tri Elite is concentrated here, mainly around the former top triathlete Gabor Klöczl, the national coach.

Every Sunday the best triathletes meet at a certain point close to Copenhagen to go on a long bike session. Every triathlete in Denmark knows this so everyone with talent and ambition gets the chance to actually train with icons like Rasmus Henning, Peter Sandvang, Susanne Nielsen, Lisbeth Kristensen, Marie Overbye, Torbjørn Sindballe, Alex Pedersen, Allan Månsson, and so on. This sums up to 40-50 riders on a good sunday morning. Gabor himself (who actually competed on a Relay team this Saturday, clocking 4:47 on the 180k course) participates and thus meets the talents on this ride. By tradition it forms out to be a really hard race after approximately 80k, where the race opens and the rule is "win or vanish."

This means that when first a talent has decided that he wants to become a triathlete, he is able to train with the absolute Danish elite and will also be spotted by the coach in charge.

All of this because the national coach in Denmark takes the time to participate on these weekly rides, and because the elite––and especially Peter Sandvang and Thorbjørn Sindballe––take responsibility for the sport and participate in these Sunday rides with amateurs and talents. I don't think that would be done by many other top triathletes––unless money were involved.

Now, I thought I'd share this little Danish "secret" with you, as it might offer you at least one explanation. One other might be Gabor's good programs. Personally I improved my IM record with astonishing 3 hours(!), this Saturday, primarily from training under Gabor since march––with his "You have to train long sessions to do long competitions," philosophy (there is much more to it of course––maybe he is the one you should interview next?)."

Hey, Slowtwitch readers, doesn't Denmark sound like a place you'd like to take your bike for a visit?