Lidl-Trek outline why tougher Tour de France stages are key to Pedersen's green jersey bid
The changes to the points classification make opportunities on tougher stages even more valuable for Mads Pedersen, who is aiming to complete a full set of Grand Tour points jerseys.
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Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) continued his aggressive pursuit of the Tour de France green jersey by making the stage 4 breakaway alongside Lidl-Trek teammates Mathias Vacek and Quinn Simmons.
The trio made the 34-rider breakaway at the start of stage 4, leaving Lidl-Trek with the joint-most representation in the move. Former green jersey winners Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) and Biniam Girmay (NSN) also made the breakaway.
Lidl-Trek Sports Director Steven De Jongh believed that the stage was well suited to Pedersen and a key opportunity to make a difference in the battle for the green jersey.
“Well, first of all, I did the full recon of the stage because I live really close by, so that’s always helpful,” De Jongh told TNT Sports. “I think it’s got Mads’ [Pedersen] name all over it, but, yeah, we have Quinn [Simmons] in good condition, also [Mathias] Vacek in good condition.”
“Then, looking at the green jersey, I think for Mads it’s a super good day to take 50 points. So it’s going to be an important day for us.”
Pedersen started stage 4 fourth in the green jersey standings on 37 points, with Tadej Pogačar leading the classification on 55 points. The Dane had already shown his willingness to go on the attack for points, winning the intermediate sprint from the breakaway on Stage 3 in Campdevànol.
This year has seen changes to the points system. Winning a sprint stage now earns 70 points towards the green jersey battle compared to 50 last year, increasing the advantage for pure sprinters in the fight for the classification.
With seven stages classified as flat offering the maximum points haul, Pedersen and Lidl-Trek know the importance of making a difference on the harder stages where the sprinters are unlikely to feature.
“Well, I think for Mads it’s important, because now the real sprint stages are 70 points,” De Jongh said. “So, for him, it’s important to get for sure points on the way as well.”
Lidl-Trek secured the points classification last July with Jonathan Milan, and will be hoping that Pedersen can keep the green jersey within the German team's ranks come Paris.
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