"I thought: Why not?" - Mads Pedersen comes with an unexpected bid for Danish timetrial throne

While National Championships have been already in full swing since the last week in smaller cycling nations and/or for youth categories, the big guns will get to action this week. And that doesn't exclude the winner of 2025 Giro Points classification - Mads Pedersen, who will take on also the individual time trial next to the "usual" road race. And he can certainly aim for victory in both races.

"I think it's a good year to try to get a good result in the time trial. Also because the route is a little different than it has been in the last few years. This time trial is more of a couple of kilometers and then a turn. There's not so much ton, where it's just out and back," Pedersen analyzes the parcours of Danish championships at Feltet. "So for me it's better."

Given the high level of Pedersen across the board in 2025, the time trial title doesn't sound like an unrealistic dream. His 7th place in the stage 2 time trial at the Giro d'Italia against world-class specialists such as Joshua Tarling only goes to show that it's not impossible for the 29-year-old.

"And then I've also just gotten better at these longer distances and can also ride these 400 plus watts that are needed to compete for the fun positions in those 45 minutes. And then I thought: Why not? Now let's try!"

But it's still not a big point of focus in training for the cobbled Classics specialist. "I have no plans to prepare myself by training on the timetrial bike. I can't see that TT bike down here (in Monaco, ed.)," he admits his mixed feelings towards the unpopular chrono special. "Now I'll just take it ad hoc, and then we'll see how the day goes."