"If Mads is open to it, then we must do it" - Could Pedersen finally be set for extended altitude camp in search for monument glory in 2025?

Mads Pedersen has long been one of the most feared and renowned riders in the peloton. As he searches for a big monument victory in 2025 though, could the Danish Lidl-Trek leader be set to finally have an extended altitude camp after avoiding them for so long?

"Mads himself has said publicly that even if his coach says he has to do it, he doesn't want to," laughs the former world champion's coach, Mattias Reck in quotes collected by Ekstra Bladet. "But it is something we talk about. I'm sure we'll do a real altitude training camp at some point," he adds.

As mentioned, Pedersen has previously been very against the idea of going to altitude, not feeling it will be of any benefit to him. As Reck says though, for the sake of experiment, it might finally be time to give it a proper go. "Mads has said 'ok, at some point we will try it'. But the reason I haven't pushed for it that much is that I have my doubts about how much it gives," admits Reck honestly. "Riders react very differently to altitude training camps."

"If Mads is open to it, then we must do it. Because so far we haven't explored that and if it just makes him lose an extra pound then maybe it will help but I'm not sure so I don't want to gamble," the coach concludes. "So it will happen at some point, but I don't yet know when or what year, he says in conclusion."

Previously, Pedersen has been revealed to be targeting the Classics and Monuments in 2025, aiming for a big spring and potentially a first ever Monument victory for the 28-year-old. Only time will tell if a trip to altitude could prove a decisive move in his quest.