"I actually haven't raced for six months, so I will feel that" - Mads Pedersen controls expectations on Milano-Sanremo return

The start of Milano-Sanremo saw plenty of pro cycling stars present and one of them was Mads Pedersen. The Lidl-Trek rider didn't expect to be healthy to make it to the Italian monument, neither was he scheduled to do it when the week started. However, the circumstances in the German team led to there being an extra contender for the victory in Sanremo, although he controls the expectations on what might be his first finished race of the season.

“I want to race. I got the green light from the medical team. I really wanted to come here. I have nothing to lose, so why wouldn't I try," Pedersen said in words to Wielerflits at the Mixed Zone this Friday afternoon. "I actually haven't raced for six months, so I will feel that. But I need to regain my race rhythm if I want to be good in the classics".

The Dane crashed on the opening stage of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana and suffered a fractured collarbone and wrist, on different sides. Rough injuries, which saw him at risk of missing out on the entire spring campaign. However with some luck and quite a lot of hard work, the recovery was slightly faster; and he also managed to put in a lot of quality work on the bike, enough to be at the start of the Italian monument as a protected rider.

"The recovery went very well and I am no longer in pain. The team doctor was rough with the movement, because I had to be able to ride safely. The recovery of my wrist went very well. The collarbone was easy to fix: a plate was simply put on in. Six weeks ago, I didn't expect to start here. The doctors told me it would take ten to twelve weeks".

A lot of his preparation was training indoors however, and he hasn't yet tested himself against his rivals this year. This means it is hard to know what to expect of himself.

“It is difficult to say where I stand. Training is something very different from racing. I am going to do my best. You have to start somewhere again. I always race to win, but sometimes you have to adjust your expectations. This is one of those moments. Still, I won't go to bed tonight without believing in a good result".

But the Cipressa is naturally in mind, and although he isn't expected to follow the front men, the race on paper suits him very well and he can rely on following the wheels up the climbs and the roads between the Cipressa and the Poggio di Sanremo. "On the Cipressa, it is easier to sit in the wheel. That is good for us, so you won't hear me complaining about that".