“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."

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."