"It wasn't an easy conversation" - Lidl-Trek DS admits Mads Pedersen was disappointed by Tour de France snub
Cycling
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."
At least Mads seems to be enjoying himself now :-) Meanwhile over at the tracks, WRs being broken at the EC but I guess news gets more discrete when GB isn’t heading the medal table or are we having a lazy weekend CUTD ;-)?
He's about 30, he had a lot of opportunities (5 years) but "only" could win 2 stages and podiums, never the green shirt. Time to give opportunities to younger and talented sprinters. C'est la vie.
A bit harsh, he’s only just turned 29 and definitely improved over the last years. No problem giving others a chance but there were also ways of taking him without stepping on pure sprinters’ toes,
We are talking about the Tour of France. Maybe the pressure is strong for him. After 5 years with good results but far away to be brilliant, it's time to shine in other races/tours and give the opportunities to others. If I were the LIDL DS, I'd make the same decision.
ahahah, maybe... perhaps unconsciously I am moved by Italianness, but I think that objectively this year Milan deserves the Tour de France. Next year we will see.
And if he’d been in a team with Ganna and they told Ganna he’d have to concede his spot? Just to complicate things, don’t forget the saga about the last-minute entry of WVA at the CX WC
Ganna is not an sprinter... yes, obviously like DS I'd prefer Milan. Ganna has a lot of talent but... sincerely, I don't know very well in what (talking about roads). Yes, he's good in TT and maybe has a future in classics. He said that will abandon the tracks and all his effort will be put in road. This year maybe I could understand better who is Ganna as road cyclist.
And yet he gets to do the Tour every year?? I don’t consider MD a sprinter, just like I wouldn’t expect MVDP to take sprinters spot but surely there is more to the Tour than just sprints and GC?
green jersey is very important and Lidl want it. For 5 years (FIVE!!!) they tried with Mads, it was not possible, it's normal that having a young talent, they try with him this year. MVDP is in the tour to lead-out Philipsen to win... the GREEN JERSEY.
This would be the argument if a rider failed to perform but Mads is a monster on the road, on the other hand, I do agree that Jonathan Milan is a better sprinter overall, Mads is a better all rounders type of rider.
Exactly why I thought they should have accommodated both. Mads’ goal of green jersey would hardly obstruct JM winning 2 or 3 pure sprints.
Ya I don't understand why Mads wasn't invited to be the MVDP to Milan's Philipsen.
An ego-problem?. Mathieu (an awesome champion) is very self-confident, he has not problem to be the "domestique", the lead out of a teammate... Maybe for Mads is not acceptable.
Well, maybe, we don’t know but from the interview and past behaviour it doesn’t seem like his character or what made you think of this?
He has, or has had endurence. He was world champion in 2019. That sort of form is starting to look like a long time ago now. There is till time though, he is not in his 30s yet.
Good point 1stp. You forget that Pederson has been World Champion.
Simple logic. Do you think that Lidl don't want their better and more paid cyclists in the Tour de France, in the roles that the DS consider more efficient? I think obviously YES. But probably some riders don't accept to change the hierarchy. Do you think other LOGIC reason?
the point is not if he is good or bad (obviously is a great rider.. I buy him in all the gambling games, ahahaha). The point is Tour de France. For Lidl (and also in my humble opinion) he didn't meet the expectations, that were high.
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