Mads Pedersen changes Tour de France preparation plans

Pedersen is scheduled to contest both national events, with the individual time trial taking place on 26 June and the road race following on 28 June. Those will be his final competitive appearances before the Tour de France begins in Barcelona on 4 July.

Lidl-Trek has not provided a detailed explanation for the change, but the team has indicated to Feltet that the decision was not prompted by a serious issue. Pedersen’s preparation for the Tour is said to remain on course.

The Tour of Belgium was initially expected to be the Dane’s second stage race during his buildup. His only stage race since beginning his Tour preparations was the Boucles de la Mayenne at the end of May, where he finished fourth overall without recording a stage victory.

So far, the Dane has endured a challenging season after a crash at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana left him with a broken left wrist and a fractured right collarbone. Despite those injuries, he made a swift return to the peloton ahead of the spring Classics, where he recorded several strong finishes but was unable to challenge for victory.

This July, Pedersen is set to return to the Tour de France, having focused on the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España last season.

He enjoyed a highly successful campaign in both races, winning the points classification at each Grand Tour. He collected four stage victories at the Giro before adding another stage win at the Vuelta.

His absence from the 2025 Tour created an opportunity for Lidl-Trek teammate Jonathan Milan. The Italian won two stages and secured the green jersey in his first appearance at the race.

Combined with Pedersen’s success in Italy and Spain, Milan’s victory completed an unprecedented sweep for Lidl-Trek. The team became the first in cycling history to win the points classification at the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España in the same season.