Eager to welcome the start of the Tour de France which embarks from the Danish capital on Friday, Copenhagen senses an opportunity to promote its deep cycling culture in a land where bikes, not cars, rule the roads. 

"Cycling in Denmark and in Copenhagen is more than just a way of transportation from A to B. In a way it's a part of our DNA," Copenhagen mayor Sophie Haestorp told AFP. 

"Last year we were the host of the European Championship in football. And it was a great big party, everybody was going out. And I think this is going to be even bigger except that now it's going to be yellow and not only red and white," she said. 

The streets are decked out in the colours of the Tour in Copenhagen where everything is made for bikes -- there are more than five times more bikes than cars. 

Over 100 million euros ($105.5 million) have been invested during the past 15 years to facilitate two-wheeled travel, with 12 "motorways" exclusively devoted to cyclists and five dedicated bridges. 

"A lot of people in Denmark take responsibility for themselves and for their health, but also for the climate. That's why we ride bicycles," Danish cycling federation chief Jens Peter Hansen told AFP. 

Around 15 percent of all journeys in this nation of a population of 5.8 million are made by bike.

"It's a small country with small distances, you don't have mountains. So I guess that's why a lot of people could see why the bicycle is really a nice way of getting around," Hansen said. 

"I think it's the Danish mentality. We like to be independent."