Pedersen answers his critics with a ‘masterpiece in teamwork’: ‘I heard I was done’
Mads Pedersen was quick to share the credit after Lidl-Trek turned stage 4 of the Tour de France into a statement of collective strength. The Dane said his victory in Foix was less about his own finishing speed than the work of Mathias Vacek and Quinn Simmons, who carried him through the decisive final climb and into position for the win. But the win also carried a personal edge for the Dane, who said he had heard “a lot of places” that he was “done” and would not win again this season.
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On a scorching day in the Pyrenees, the Dane delivered Lidl-Trek a commanding victory on stage 4 of the Tour de France, finishing off a near-perfect tactical performance in Foix ahead of teammate Quinn Simmons and Movistar’s Raúl García Pierna.
Pedersen was part of a 34-rider move that formed early in the stage, with Lidl-Trek placing three riders in the decisive selection. Mathias Vacek and Simmons stayed with their leader when the race sharpened on the final climb, the Col de Montségur, and then took responsibility once the strongest ten riders had gone clear.
“I would say it was a masterpiece in teamwork,” Pedersen said afterwards. “Maybe not climbing. I was suffering a lot on the last climb, but with Quinn and Vacek there, it was an incredible day. They paced it well for me and made sure we didn’t lose too much time over the top. From there to the finish line they were just machines.”
For Pedersen, the victory also carried a personal message. He revealed that Lidl-Trek team manager Luca Guercilena had pointed to the stage before the start and challenged him to deliver early in the race.
“I had a good talk with Luca [Guercilena] before the race,” Pedersen said. “He said, ‘Please win me a stage, and please do it early in the race.’ He said this would be a good one for me, so this stage is for Luca and all the good years we had together.
Guercilena is set to leave Lidl-Trek after the Tour, with Andy Schleck taking over as CEO before the Italian begins his new role as director of RCS Sport’s cycling division in September.
“I’m really thankful for everything he has done for me. To point it out and give me a lot of pressure to win today, it’s still nice from him.”
In the post-stage press conference, Pedersen also admitted he had been aware of the criticism around his form and his decision to skip part of the Belgian racing block in order to focus on training. After a long wait for a victory, the Dane said the win in Foix was a satisfying answer to those who had written him off.
“Some guys said it was stupid. I also heard a lot of places that I was done and I should just stop this season, I would not win anything,” Pedersen said. “So it’s nice to show them that they’re definitely wrong and I can also prepare by training.”
Pedersen extends points lead
The victory also strengthened Pedersen’s position in the points competition. Although Biniam Girmay beat both Jasper Philipsen and Pedersen in the intermediate sprint, the Dane collected a major haul at the finish and now leads the classification by 64 points over the next sprinter, Girmay, who currently sits sixth.
“It would have been lovely to beat Girmay and Jasper in the intermediate sprint,” Pedersen said. “But at least I’m picking up fifty points here on the finish line as well. It’s another really good day for us.”
Wednesday could be another important day in the fight for green, with the peloton heading to Pau and the sprinters expected to get their first real opportunity of the race.
Result: Tour de France stage 4
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