'I have to ride a relatively anonymous bike race': Mads Pedersen set for unusual role in Denmark's Worlds plan

Mads Pedersen expects to spend much of Sunday's road race out of the spotlight, and he is entirely comfortable with that.

Denmark plan to keep their protected rider in reserve while Andreas Kron, Michael Valgren, Mikkel Honoré and Anthon Charmig are given more freedom to race aggressively ahead of the finale.

Pedersen believes that is the right approach on a course that does not naturally play to his strengths.

"I agree with Michael. On that route it is the only right thing for me to ride like that," Pedersen told Feltet, referring to Denmark coach Michael Mørkøv. "It was also something we talked about when the plan was that Skjelmose would ride over here."

"It is no secret that it is a difficult route, and I am one of the heavy boys. So you have to ride with some economy in the bag. I have to use my head, ride defensively and ride a relatively anonymous bike race."

That leaves Kron, Valgren, Honoré and Charmig as Denmark's options to race more offensively before the finale.

Pedersen pointed to Friday's under 23 road race as evidence of how difficult it could be for the favourites to control riders who get ahead of the race.

Ashlin Barry took the rainbow jersey after going clear in a move that also included Denmark's Kristian Egholm, with the favourites behind unable to bring him back.

"We could see with the under 23s that if you have 20 seconds, you are not just shut down when there are favourites sitting behind who have to ride economically," Pedersen said.

"So there is no doubt that what we learned is that with the boys we have talked about, who will ride the pre final, they can get really far into the bike race."

For Pedersen, there is also a familiar element to the strategy. At the 2019 World Championships in Harrogate, he was the Danish rider sent up the road before ultimately winning the world title.

"It is very reminiscent of Harrogate, and there you saw that I became world champion by riding that tactic of being the man who had to go out front."

Tadej Pogačar's absence also leaves Sunday's race without the two time defending champion. Pedersen, though, is focused on how Denmark can make the most of its own options on the 273.7 kilometre course.

Asked whether he still believes he can come away from Montréal with a medal despite the severity of the route, his answer was brief.

"Otherwise I would have stayed home."