"Kudos to him and his speed" - Mads Pedersen full of praise for Olav Kooij after Dutchman sprints to Paris-Nice stage win

After missing out on a second Paris-Nice stage win, Mads Pedersen was quick to give praise to the man who had defeated him, Jumbo-Visma's Olav Kooij.

“It is always better to win than to finish second," Pedersen said in an interview in the immediate aftermath of the stage. "But Kooij came to the end so quickly that I never thought for a moment that I would win. Kudos to him and his speed.”

Following a chaotic climax to the stage, the 27-year-old, Danish, Trek-Segafredo sprinter wasn't looking to make excuses. “It was hectic. There was a roundabout and when we got through it there was 'traffic furniture'," said Pedersen of the final kilometre. "I kind of lost Kirsch. But from there it was pretty straight forward. So no excuses: I was beaten today by someone who was faster.”