Mads Pedersen admits early career lacked focus - 'I fooled around too much'

"I would probably tell myself to take things more seriously. The team also told me I needed to be more focused. I smashed too many front wheels because I crashed into others," Pedersen said in the podcast Lang Distance, reflecting on advice he would give his younger self.

The Danish Lidl-Trek rider, who enjoyed his breakthrough with second place at the 2018 Tour of Flanders at just 22 years old, behind winner Niki Terpstra, admitted that his approach to training camps wasn't conducive to maximising his potential.

"I fooled around too much when we were at training camps. That cost me results because the focus wasn't there for the races. So I would tell myself: Stay focused on what you're doing," he explained.

Since overcoming his early career distractions, Pedersen has developed into one of the sport's most versatile riders, crowned by his stunning world championship victory in Harrogate, 2019, and continuing to shine with stage wins across multiple Grand Tours, a highlight being his phenomenal Giro d'Italia performance in 2025, where Pedersen couldn't stop winning and taking home the points jersey.

However, Pedersen's comments also highlight the demanding reality of professional cycling, where total commitment is required to compete at the highest level.

This sentiment was echoed by recently retired Danish rider Jonas Gregaard, who announced he's hanging up his wheels at 29-years-old in an interview with Feltet, Gregaard described the all-consuming nature of the sport.

"I believe cycling is the hardest sport mentally and physically. It has demanded so much. That's also why if you don't feel you're at 100 percent, you can't be part of this world," said Gregaard.

The former Uno-X rider elaborated on his decision to retire: "As cycling has developed recently, it's such a demanding sport that you simply have to live for it. I've felt that there have been various issues with my body where I felt I pulled the plug."