'It wasn't a question of just trying to produce Mads merchandise' - Inside Pedersen's Santini collection

Mads Pedersen was one of the headline guests at Rouleur Live on Friday, taking to the stage alongside Santini Creative Director Fergus Niland to discuss his Momentum Series Collection. 

Earlier in the day, after Pedersen’s scheduled meet-and-greet with fans, Domestique spoke to the Lidl-Trek rider and Niland ahead of their stage appearance, and also caught up with Santini CEO Monica Santini.

Pedersen first wore Santini kit in 2018, when the brand became the official apparel supplier to his team, then Trek-Segafredo.

While his previous input on kit development took place through the squad, the Momentum Series was created as a standalone line.

“Obviously, through the team, throughout the different iterations of what is now Lidl-Trek, we’ve had contact with Mads for many years now. He’s been a point of reference for us from a product development perspective,” Niland told Domestique.

“From both sides, it wasn’t a question of just trying to produce Mads merchandise, but about asking what we really wanted to do and how we saw it coming together,” he added. 

Built around Santini's MADSS aerodynamic skinsuit platform alongside performance kit and casual wear, the collection mixes understated pieces with bolder patterns.

According to Niland, the name Momentum Series reflects Pedersen’s determination to keep moving forward, including through setbacks. Its visual identity features a graphic of arrows pointing in opposite directions.

Niland said Pedersen was involved in discussions around the jerseys, colours, and styling, before the finished designs were presented to the Dane for feedback.

For the former world champion, it was important for the collection to be something he could wear regularly rather than simply a range bearing his name.

“It’s always nice to have a personal touch in something you’re riding,” Pedersen told Domestique. “It’s not like I’m riding this collection for training. But I can also use it in races, just with different colours.”

“To have that performance with my name on it, and even my own ideas and designs, makes it even nicer,” he added. 

The collection could also expand further, with Monica Santini telling Domestique that the company is working with Pedersen on a rain jacket. 

"Normally, we work with Mads on new developments. We’re working on a rain jacket, for instance, and what we’ll probably do is incorporate that into the collection,” Santini said.