“He’s been the boss of that team for years” — Experts ponder if Lidl-Trek’s GC ambitions might force Mads Pedersen out of Tour de France for second year running in 2026

The 2026 Tour de France route presentation in Paris has reignited one of Danish cycling’s biggest questions — will Mads Pedersen finally return to the world’s biggest race, or will Lidl-Trek once again leave their former world champion at home?

According to TV2’s cycling experts, the newly unveiled parcours might not work in Pedersen’s favour despite featuring several flat stages. On paper, the route looks like a gift for the sprinters — but only for the pure ones.

TV2 analyst and former pro rider Christian Moberg believes that Lidl-Trek may once again prefer Jonathan Milan, who won the green jersey and two stages at this year’s Tour de France, over Pedersen next summer. “Milan is a more traditional sprinter who needs a completely flat stage,” Moberg explained. “That could work slightly against the chances of seeing Mads Pedersen at the Tour. We don’t have the full picture yet, but it already looks like those sprint stages are very much for the pure sprinters.”

Moberg pointed out that the stages where Pedersen truly excels tend to feature climbs and crosswinds — conditions where the Dane’s endurance and power can outlast others. “On the stages where we’ve seen Mads among the best in the world in the past, there have usually been climbs — where he can put others under pressure and still finish it off,” he added.

Yet even Pedersen’s versatility may not be enough this time. Lidl-Trek have brought in fresh firepower for 2026, signing GC hopeful Juan Ayuso from UAE Team Emirates - XRG — a move that could shift the team’s focus toward the overall classification rather than hunting sprint victories.

Pedersen’s influence within Lidl-Trek has long been undisputed. As Moberg notes, “He’s been the boss of that team for years, and we’ve all called him that. But there are others coming to the fore now.”

Those “others” include Milan and Ayuso, two riders whose ambitions might squeeze Pedersen out of a guaranteed Tour spot for the second consecutive season — a bitter pill given his successes elsewhere. The Dane claimed the points jersey at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana this year, alongside multiple stage victories, underlining his consistency and versatility across all terrains.

Fellow TV2 expert Lars Bak, himself an eight-time Tour de France competitor, sees no sign that Pedersen’s hunger has faded. He believes the 29-year-old will do everything possible to earn his Tour return — even if team politics make the path difficult. “He’ll do everything he can to be part of next year’s Tour team,” Bak said. “Teams are already reviewing everything now, and it’s really in December when the first seeds are planted for who will ride which races.”

For now, Pedersen’s fate rests in the hands of Lidl-Trek’s management — and their strategic direction for 2026. With Milan’s raw sprinting power, Ayuso’s GC potential, and Pedersen’s proven all-round ability, the team faces a balancing act between stage wins, classification ambitions, and internal hierarchy.

Whether “the boss” makes his return to the Tour de France next July remains one of the most intriguing selection battles of the winter.