"It wasn't an easy conversation" - Lidl-Trek DS admits Mads Pedersen was disappointed by Tour de France snub

In 2025, Mads Pedersen is set to miss the Tour de France for the first time since 2019. After being the regular leader of the Lidl-Trek team over the years, the Danish former world champion has been left out of the team's provisional lineup for the French Grand Tour in 2025.

In essence, the choice for Lidl-Trek came down to picking one of either Pedersen or Jonathan Milan as the sprint leader. A difficult decision, given both riders' proven Grand Tour stage winning pedigree. "We had to disappoint Mads," admits Lidl-Trek's sports director Steven de Jongh in conversation with In de Leiderstrui. "Both Mads and Jonathan wanted to do the Tour de France, because it's the biggest race for sprinters. So it wasn't an easy conversation, but they accepted it."

"There will be no Tour for me this year. I will have the summer at home, and then I will ride the PostNord Danmark Rundt and the Vuelta. It's not just my decision. We're a big team now and there are other priorities on the team too. Johnny can win a lot of stages," said Pedersen at the time of the announcement. "I would like to have ridden for the green jersey, but I'm not going to bed crying because I won't be riding the Tour. I also understand that the team has plans for all the riders. I'm taking it easy. Then there are other opportunities with the Giro and the Vuelta. Then you can try to win two points jerseys in one season."

This viewpoint of looking at the lack of a Tour de France as an opportunity to shine elsewhere is one that De Jongh too is keen to put forward for Pedersen in 2025. "It could also give him some new opportunities, and Mads is already talking about the pink leader's jersey," he says, eyeing the Giro d'Italia. "He is full of optimism."