In the 1978 UCI Road World Championships Jørgen Marcussen created an upset by winning a bronze medal, behind Gerrie Knetemann and Francesco Moser. He also managed to finish 4th overall in the 1981 Vuelta a España, which was the best result by a Dane in a Grand tour at the time. It was a feat that was not expected and not surpassed until Bjarne Riis came 3rd in the 1995 Tour de France.