The 38-year-old Olympic rower and pro cyclist achieved one of the biggest results of his two-decade-long elite career in a Copenhagen course record of 7:46.06.

Sharing the international success of fellow Tasmanians including Craig Walton, Craig Redman and Jake Birtwhistle, Wurf completed the 3.8-kilometre swim in 49:08, the 180km ride in a course record 4:02.19 and the final 42.2km marathon run in 2:49.37.

To complete a perfect day for the Hobart talent, Lionel Sanders, the Canadian he coaches, came second just over three minutes behind with Finn Henrik Goesch third (+06:04).

"I haven't hurt like that for a while," said Wurf, who remains contracted to Richie Porte's INEOS Grenadiers pro cycling team.

"I think I was lucky I had the Danish colours, they gave me an extra lift in the run.

"It's my first race coaching Lionel and I think I'm doing too good a job because he just kept coming and coming. I thought I'll have to be patient here, try and draw him in and then go all-in when I think I can get to the line and I did that in the last 4km and managed to hold him off."

Despite losing time in the swim when a group of competitors went the wrong way, Wurf made amends by taking the race lead in a blistering ride.

"I'm just really pleased. You ride for show and run for dough and I'm pretty happy with my run.

"It feels like the world is back, the first signs of normality after a crazy couple of years. I've always been a huge fan of Denmark and it was great to be here and great to do your national event."

Interviewed on stage at the end of the race, Wurf even reminisced about competing against great Danes as a rower at the 2004 Olympics.