The calm before the storm ☔️ Hear from @Mads__Pedersen, @Elisa_balsamo, @x_shirin, @Jasperstuyven and @ElisaLongoB ahead of @RondeVlaanderen #RVV23 📰 racing.trekbikes.com/stories/trek-s…
"99 out of 100 times it’s impossible to follow them on pure power on the climbs" - Mads Pedersen fears climbing challenges at Tour of Flanders
CyclingSunday, 02 April 2023 at 10:00
In 2018 Mads Pedersen made his Tour of Flanders debut in 2018 and rode into second place. In 2023, after several consistent springs, he starts as an outsider but is aware of the challenge he will face.
"I don’t care if it’s wet or dry. Normally it takes a lot of guys out of contention, so then I’m fine with the rain. But I’m still not hoping that on Sunday it’ll be pissing down because the chances of having bad luck are greater," Pedersen said in a press release. "I think right now the big deal will be the Koppenberg. The rest of the climbs are normally ok..."
Pedersen has recently raced to fifth at Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen, as well as sixth at Milano-Sanremo. The Dane would ordinarily be a big favourite to win Flanders taking into consideration the long distances and headwind finale which will favour the fast men. However at the E3 Saxo Classic he's witnessed first hand the power of Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar who filled the podium.
“Right now in cycling, we have these superstars. And we saw in the other classics when they go on the climb, we can’t follow them. So for us, it would be a stupid idea to think that we can just stay with them and then follow when they go," he continues. "Because I would say, nine out of 10 times or 99 out of 100 times it’s impossible to follow them on pure power on the climbs. So, of course, we have to play the race smarter and be ahead of that. And I think with the strength we have on the Team that’s possible.”
The 27-year old may be in a fight for the Top10 or possible Top10. He believes his spot this year will be among there and that could be his fight. However he also believes he could get more freedom than previous years.
“Yeah, but you have taken into account count that other guys think the same as us. I think that maybe we have a bit of freedom from those three guys, but you have still have 20-30 guys who can fight for top 10, and they’re thinking the same as us," he concluded.
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