"If I were his agent or advisor, I’d say: ‘Mads, I think it’s time for you to switch teams’" - Mads Pedersen urged to leave Lidl-Trek by Brian Holm

Mads Pedersen has been in a real purple patch this Spring, winning at Gent Wevelgem and finishing on the final podium at the E3 Saxo Classic, the Tour of Flanders and most recently, Paris-Roubaix. With the Dane in his contract year at Lidl-Trek and left out of the provisional Tour de France lineup, this good form could hardly have come at a better time either.

Whilst a 3rd placed finish at Paris-Roubaix last weekend was undoubtedly another positive result for the former world champion, Danish cycling ex-pro turned expert Brian Holm questions whether or not his compatriot really has the full backing of his team anymore. "Why can’t Lidl-Trek just say that Mads P. is the team leader?" Holm asks aloud on the most recent episode of the podcast Café Eddy. "They say, ‘We’re riding with three leaders.’ (also Jonathan Milan & Jasper Stuyven ed.) I find that really odd."

"It’s a mystery at this point. With the performances he’s delivered and the way he’s been riding, I can’t see how he isn’t the sole leader of that team," adds Danish national coach Michael Morkov. "But it seems like the team they have now — and maybe the sports directors’ approach — is a bit too soft and diplomatic."

As mentioned though, with Pedersen in the final year of his current contract and notably left out of the provisional Lidl-Trek team for the 2025 Tour de France, a move that looks set to force the Dane to miss the Grand Tour for the first time since 2019, Holm believes it might be time for Pedersen to start entertaining offers from elsewhere.

"If I were his agent or advisor, I’d say, ‘Mads, I think it’s time for you to switch teams,’" Holm urges his fellow Dane. "Mads Pedersen belongs in the Tour de France. I don’t know the full story, but I’m sure he’s not happy about it."

Having first signed with the team all the way back in 2017, the story of Pedersen and Trek has been a mutually successful for the most part. Even before the alleged lack of belief in the 29-year-old at Paris-Roubaix however, cracks have been beginning to appear in the relationship. After stage 1 of Paris-Nice earlier this year, Pedersen hit out at his teammates for their lack of support in the finale. "The work being done today is simply not good enough. There’s not much to say. You can analyze all you want, but it’s just not good enough," he told TV2 fiercely. 

And even after his stunning solo win at Gent Wevelgem, not all within Lidl-Trek were totally enthused. "It was pretty stupid, and I hope he doesn’t do it again," explained a relieved Toms Skujins in conversation with Feltet.dk after his teammate had attacked with more than 50 kilometres still to go. 

Is there underlying tension within the Lidl-Trek camp or are people simply looking for a story that isn't there? Ultimately it is a question that will only be answered in time, but one thing for sure is that if Pedersen can keep up this current form, where ever he rides in 2025, he will likely be doing so on the back of signing a very nice contract.