Pedersen admits he was 'a bit scared' during Bordeaux sprint as Tour green jersey push continues

Pedersen began the day with a 75-point lead in the points classification over Max Kanter (XDS Astana), and he started on the right foot. 

Behind the two breakaway riders, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché) and Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Pedersen was the fastest in a competitive battle for third place at the intermediate sprint, picking up 16 points.

The Dane then finished ninth in the bunch sprint in Bordeaux won by Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), with Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) second and Biniam Girmay (NSN) third. 

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), another of Pedersen's chief rivals for the green jersey, ended fifth on the stage, after being delivered to the front under the flamme rouge. 

Although Girmay cut Pedersen's lead in the points classification to 59 points, the Lidl-Trek rider was satisfied with the day’s outcome. 

"I think there were five of us within a wheel's length of the finish line, so it could just as easily have been fifth place instead of ninth," Pedersen told TV2. 

"The intermediate sprint went well, and I got the maximum points I could, and at the finish, I can be glad that Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay didn't win. All in all, it's been a decent day."

Pedersen admitted, however, that the high-speed run-in to Bordeaux was not one he particularly enjoyed.

"I can't think of anything much worse than riding a sprint like that here,” he said. "At the risk of sounding like a wimp, you do get a bit scared now and then."

With another bunch sprint expected on Stage 8 to Bergerac, Lidl-Trek intends to stick to the same strategy.

"Tomorrow will probably be another breakaway attempt, so we'll pick up the points what is left at the intermediate [sprint]," sports director Steven de Jongh told TNT Sports.

"Then we try to put Mads in a really good position for the final sprint," De Jongh added.

With 70 points on offer for the winner of the flat stages, Pedersen and Lidl-Trek have illustrated how important it is for the Dane to make a difference on the tougher stages where the pure sprinters are unlikely to feature, as illustrated on stage 4. 

Pedersen is looking to join Eddy Merckx, Laurent Jalabert, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Alessandro Petacchi and Mark Cavendish in winning the points classification at all three Grand Tours.