"Enjoy the small steps forward": Mads Pedersen back on indoor bike after his serious crash in Valencia

Five days after one of the toughest moments of his season start, Mads Pedersen is back on the bike. The Dane from Lidl-Trek, who last Wednesday hit the deck on stage 1 of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026, has begun his road back after a double injury that initially set off alarm bells.

That crash left a difficult diagnosis: a fractured wrist and a broken collarbone, a sobering medical report for any rider, especially one who had just opened his racing calendar. However, far from dwelling on the setback, Pedersen has chosen a constructive approach. After undergoing surgery last week, the former world champion is already immersed in his recovery. From his home in Monaco, he shared a video riding gently on the turbo, wrist still bandaged but with a calm expression.

Alongside the footage, Pedersen posted a simple yet meaningful message: "Reminder: enjoy the small steps forward". A line that neatly captures his current mindset. Rather than setting deadlines or dates, the Dane seems focused on steady progress, valuing each gain in what will inevitably be a gradual process.

So, although the incident in Valencia put an unexpected brake on his season launch, the fact he was already turning the pedals just five days after the crash is encouraging. With patience, consistency, and a positive attitude, Mads Pedersen begins writing the first chapter of his comeback.

Last season, Mads Pedersen cemented his status as one of the world’s best riders. There was even debate about whether he belongs in the select Big Six alongside Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primoz Roglic. The rider whose place he would take is Wout van Aert.

He made a strong case. Among his standout results in 2025 were four stage wins and the points classification at the Giro d’Italia, a stage win at the Vuelta a España along with the points classification, overall victories at the Danmark Rundt and the Tour de la Provence, Gent-Wevelgem, plus podiums at the Tour des Flandres and Paris–Roubaix, to name a few.