Thomas Sørensen: Danish Grit, Quiet Ambition, and the Power of Riding Together 🇩🇰
From Aarhus, Denmark, Thomas Sørensen represents a special strand of SISU Racing: calm, thoughtful, quietly competitive— and deeply team oriented. He’s a rider who didn’t grow up chasing watts or podiums, yet has become one of SISU’s most respected competitors and a proud figure among the team’s growing Danish contingent.
From Commuter Instincts to Competitive Focus
Before Zwift, Thomas didn’t think in watts. He thought in momentum. A lifelong commuter, he was the rider who kept the chain tight, sprinted for green lights, and treated every intersection like a small victory. The instinct to push was always there - it just hadn’t yet been given structure.
Life shifted dramatically in 2016 when Thomas and his partner welcomed twins who were diagnosed with a severe epilepsy syndrome. Leaving the house became difficult, and priorities changed overnight. When he discovered Zwift in 2020, it offered something invaluable: the ability to train, race, and sweat - while staying home.
At first, riding was casual. One race a week. A bit of fun. But by 2023, with the twins in a better medical place, Thomas had more space to explore cycling seriously. That was when he found SISU Racing.
The concept of team racing, shared effort, and collective purpose hooked him immediately.
The Rider: All-Rounder with a Climber’s Edge
Thomas describes himself as an all-rounder, though his lighter build naturally favours climbing. He’s not driven by noise or distraction - his pain cave soundtrack is simple: team comms. The voices of teammates, the call outs, the shared suffering. That’s all he needs.
His go-to Zwift bike is the Specialized Halo, and his pre-ride ritual is non-negotiable: an espresso macchiato to wake the synapses before an evening race, usually after 7pm once work and family duties are done.
Denmark on the Esports Stage
Thomas has become a familiar presence at the Danish National Cycling Esports Championships - events he describes as having a genuine “arena-like” energy. Racing live, on neutral equipment, against experienced riders was both validating and motivating.
He finished 4th in the 40+ category in both 2024 and 2025. Close enough to sting, but strong enough to prove he belonged. In 2024, he also earned a spot riding as a domestique for the Danish National Team in the World Championship semi-final. Even without a starring role, pulling on the national jersey was a moment he won’t forget.
What stood out most in 2025 wasn’t his own result - it was the growth of SISU’s Danish presence. What began as just Thomas and Martin Qvist had grown into a small squad, including Jonas Saber, who came agonisingly close to a podium.
Motivation Built on Gratitude
When motivation dips, Thomas doesn’t overthink it. Exercise itself is enough. And when his own racing fire cools, he finds joy in riding for others - domestiquing, pacing, helping teammates achieve their goals.
Consistency, for him, is rooted in gratitude. After everything his family has faced, simply being able to go to work, get on the bike, and push hard is something he doesn’t take for granted. That perspective fuels him more reliably than any training plan.
One key mindset shift changed his racing trajectory: daring to believe he didn’t have to finish at the back. Opening himself to ambition - allowing the possibility of staying with the group, contesting climbs, racing into the event rather than surviving it made a real difference.
Highlights Earned the Hard Way
Thomas is honest about his mixed emotions. Two fourth-place finishes still hurt a little. But racing live, under pressure, against riders with far more experience - and holding his own was deeply affirming.
Add to that his role with the Danish national team and his achievements within SISU, and the picture becomes clear: this is a rider who has grown steadily, without shortcuts.
The lesson cycling has taught him, both on and off the bike?
Be magnanimous.
SISU Through and Through
Thomas wears SISU colours with pride, both in Zwift and in real life. To him, the jersey represents openness, joy, and team spirit.
One memory captures it perfectly: Jeremy Hopkins waking up in the middle of the night in the US to ride the Mega Pretzel with him back in 2023 - waiting on the climbs, sharing the effort, no questions asked. That, Thomas says, is SISU.
As the reigning Men’s iTT Club Champion, he’ll line up again in March to defend his title, even if the shorter 10.3km course isn’t perfectly suited to him. He’s realistic - but always willing to give his best.
He’ll also return in 2026 to defend his A Grade SISU Tour victory, where he won by 55 seconds thanks to a full team effort. Teammates drove the pace, controlled the race, and delivered him into the hot seat. Thomas is clear: next time, he’d love to repay the favour.
Looking Ahead
For 2026, the goals are simple and grounded:
Stay active. Stay healthy. Enjoy outdoor joyrides and indoor racing.
Among the many series he races, the ECRO Tour holds a special place - community driven, demanding, and full of familiar SISU jerseys in the bunch.
Why SISU Matters
Thomas sums it up with characteristic clarity:
“People from all over the world coming together over a healthy activity. I often feel like that’s why the internet was invented.”
From commuter instincts to national championships, from family challenges to shared victories, Thomas Sørensen’s story is one of quiet resilience, team loyalty, and Danish grit - exactly the kind of story SISU Racing is proud to tell.