“I’m racing to win” - Determined Mads Pedersen looking to challenge Pogacar & Van der Poel at Milano-Sanremo

Arguably the most realistic threat to the likely victory of either Mathieu van der Poel or Tadej Pogacar at Milano-Sanremo this weekend, Mads Pedersen is dreaming of monument success.

"My whole winter and preparation pre-Milano-Sanremo has gone really well, and that was quite different compared to last year, when I got sick at Paris-Nice and I was in far from ideal form for this race," previews Pedersen to the Lidl-Trek website. "I have been happy with the feedback I’ve got from each race and with the position I’m in now, two days from the event."

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As mentioned, many are touting Pedersen as the most viable challenger to Pogacar and van der Poel. Having finished 6th the last two years, he's certainly not far off. "Honestly, I haven’t pictured any scenario for Saturday. I really take the race as it comes. I think it’s too hard a race to spend energy thinking about a scenario and then it doesn’t happen, being forced to change the way of racing I had in my head," he says.

"I really just want to focus on myself and doing as best as possible. With this in my mind, I know I can win the race if it comes to a sprint between a group of 5 or 15 riders. At least, I have to believe in it. Milano-Sanremo is a super hard race that suits me well," Pedersen concludes. "I don’t care how the race is raced as long as I’m racing to win."

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