“I only had one goal” — Mads Pedersen bolsters Green Jersey lead with all-out attack on Stage 7 breakaway at La Vuelta 2025

Mads Pedersen isn’t here for the high mountains — but that doesn’t mean he’s not leaving his mark on them. On Stage 7 of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana, the Lidl-Trek leader once again showed his versatility and tactical clarity, forcing his way into the day’s breakaway to claim valuable intermediate sprint points before pulling the plug on the final climb to Cerler.

“On the first climb, I was suffering in the first group, trying to hang on with the peloton,” Pedersen explained at the finish line afterwards. “I knew I had to hang on until the last 2 to 3 kilometres, because then it would be flatter, and that was my only chance to go in the break if I was still there.”

The stage always had the chance to end in the breakaway, and while Pedersen had no ambitions on the summit finish, he timed his move with purpose. After Ayuso and others established the early move over the Port del Cantó, Pedersen bridged just before the KOM summit, helping form a group of 12 that would dominate the day.

“The intermediate sprint was the only thing on my mind,” Pedersen said. “With a finish like today’s, I only had one goal: to get the points at the bottom of the climb.”

He did just that, taking full points at the day’s intermediate sprint and increasing his advantage in the points classification. With the job done, Pedersen sat up on the lower slopes of the final ascent — his race for the day complete.

Before easing off, Pedersen briefly looked to see if he could contribute to his Lidl-Trek teammate Giulio Ciccone, who sits among the GC contenders and is also active in the mountains classification battle. But with Ciccone holding position comfortably in the favourites' group, Pedersen was free to back off. “When the peloton passed me, I looked to see if I could help Cicco in any way,” he said. “But he didn’t need anything, so I could sit up and take it easy to the finish.”

It was another productive day in a Vuelta where Pedersen continues to target the green jersey with discipline and experience. With sprint opportunities limited in this year’s route, moves like today’s are vital — and the Dane once again showed he knows exactly how and when to take his chances.