'When I start, it’s me we ride for' - Mads Pedersen targets Tour of Flanders after disrupted Classics build-up

Pedersen was forced out of Gent-Wevelgem due to illness, ending his bid for a fourth victory in the race. The decision followed a difficult outing at the E3 Saxo Classic, where he still managed ninth despite not being at full strength. Speaking at his Lang Distance podcast, he admitted he was already compromised.

“If you’re missing five to ten percent at this level, it’s really hard to make a difference,” he said, reflecting on a day where he felt more like “a passenger in the bunch” than a contender.

The choice to withdraw from Gent-Wevelgem was made with the bigger picture in mind. Pedersen explained that pushing through illness could have jeopardised his entire Flemish campaign.

“If I had dug myself completely into the ground, it wouldn’t have been a good week. Then we would be compensating all the way to Flanders, and we don’t need that,” Pedersen said.

Instead, Lidl-Trek opted to prioritise recovery, even if that meant missing a race where Pedersen has built a strong legacy. The focus has now shifted firmly towards Dwars door Vlaanderen and, above all, the Tour of Flanders.

His participation in Dwars door Vlaanderen remains likely but not guaranteed. Pedersen made it clear that the team will not take unnecessary risks if any trace of illness lingers. “The plan is that I race, but if there’s still a bit of sickness in the body, it can be better to train hard instead of racing,” he said.

That cautious approach reflects a broader mindset shaped by a turbulent start to the season, which included fractures to his wrist and collarbone earlier in the year. According to Pedersen, it has forced him to rethink priorities.

“This year everything is about the monuments. Everything in between is just preparation,” he said.

Physically, there are still signs of recovery. His wrist is improving, although he admits the surrounding muscles remain weak after weeks of limited use. He also lacks some top end sprint speed, having been unable to train explosively for a prolonged period.

“I can feel that the top speed is still missing a bit,” he said, noting that sprinting power has been difficult to rebuild after his injury layoff.

Even so, there are reasons for optimism. His performance at Milan-Sanremo showed he can still compete at the highest level over longer distances, and the team believes his form will continue to build in the coming days.

Within Lidl-Trek, there is also clarity around leadership. Pedersen confirmed that the team is fully committed to him when he lines up, removing any ambiguity in race tactics. “When I start, it’s me we ride for. There are no shared leaders,” he said.