"He also needs to get going soon" - Clock is ticking for Mads Pedersen's World Championships dream after he recovers from illness
Cycling
The World Championships are fast approaching for some of the big contenders as a a new rainbow jersey is set to be crowned on September 27th. With Tadej Pogacar ruled out, several contenders are now thrust into the battle for victory. One of those could well be Mads Pedersen.
The Lidl-Trek classics specialist, a former world champion in 2019, is among Denmark's selection for the elite men's road race, but finds himself on the back-foot after a sub-par Vuelta a Espana was ended last week by illness.
But now, after a round of anti-biotics, Pedersen is back healthy again and has returned to training with three weeks to get himself back up to speed to challenge in the big race. His coach has confirmed that he has resumed light training.
Lidl-Trek coach Mattias Reck confirmed Pedersen went out for a training ride on Sunday as he mapped out what the Dane needs to do and the rough plan for the coming weeks.
Mads Pedersen on stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Pedersen feeling better after Vuelta illness
“I spoke to him on Saturday and he said he was feeling better and better, so on Sunday he was going to ride for a couple of hours,” Reck told TV2 Sport.
Noting Pedersen's usual aptitude towards training, Reck feels confident that he can return to high level, plotting interval training and heat adaptation work before the Dane jets off to Canada for the championships.
“Now that we have taken him out, I hope he can start training really well again soon,” Reck said.
“We all know that Mads is very good at training, so I’m positive, but he also needs to get going soon. We’ll start with some endurance blocks, then we’ll add intervals and heat training, because he is very good at that, and then we’ll head to Canada.”
Reck is positive but no guarantees
When it comes to Pedersen reaching the levels needed to rival Paul Seixas, Isaac del Toro, Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel and co in a stacked startlist? Reck sees that as a possibility, but won't guarantee it just yet.
He summarised: “I can’t promise anything, but I’m positive.”
Pogacar's absence after suffering several injuries in a Vuelta crash on stage 8 has changed the dynamic of the race. While the same contenders arrive, the race will take a different shape as the riders don't look to the Slovenian to set the tone for the race.
An invaluable opportunity for many riders who have previously taken top ten performances at the championships, the Montreal championships are sure to be one to remember.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And yet, it attracts people, even you. What’s more, it attracts the rival fanboys to fill cyberspace with endless pointless my hero is better than your hero blabla that’s all been heard before and only helps sell the site as an advertising platform. You know what the solution is but most can’t resist. No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- he is doing 460 watts for 35 min to achieve 7 w/kg with VO2 at 96 , just unreal numbers.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just do it, and put up with the consequencesJumpyjohn08-11-2026
- "was a headliner at the Tour de France" Nobody cared about Piddie. Only rivals that were there for Pogi, Jonas, Remco, Sexias, Lipo, Del Toro and they were all expected to lose. Piddie was not even in any conversation.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- exactly, he had an amazing season, but with these overstatements they don‘t do him good.Ketterechts08-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment