Lidl-Trek ban Mads Pedersen from sprinting in Denmark: “Unless I could win solo, I had to pull the plug — no risks before La Vuelta"

Fresh from sealing his overall victory at the Tour of Denmark 2025, Mads Pedersen lined up at Sunday’s Frederiksberg Criterium — but with one non-negotiable instruction from Lidl-Trek: don’t sprint.

With the Vuelta a Espana just days away, the Danish star was under strict orders to avoid any unnecessary risks. Even a minor crash could derail the team’s Grand Tour strategy, and that meant playing it safe on home soil.

“The team told me that unless I could win solo or from a small group, I had to pull the plug before the sprint,” Pedersen told Feltet.dk in a post-race interview. “We couldn’t afford to take any chances ahead of the Vuelta.”

While the Frederiksberg circuit might not carry World Tour points, its tight corners, high speeds and motivated Continental field made it a potential hazard — especially for a rider coming off a big week and preparing for three weeks of high-pressure racing.

Despite the directive, Pedersen didn’t treat the criterium as a mere victory parade. For the first 45 minutes, he was actively covering moves, riding near the front, and contributing to the pace-setting. “I spent the early part of the race closing gaps. But I didn’t have much left in the legs to keep doing it,” he said. “As I mentioned, the condition from the team was clear — solo or small group, or pull out. That was it.”

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The Frederiksberg Criterium, a technical 4.2 km lap featuring six corners and the short drag up to the Zoo, proved tougher than expected, especially with a headwind on the uphill finishing straight. “It’s much harder than people think,” Pedersen said. “The wind on the climb and into the line made it a proper effort.”

Pedersen’s restrained ride came just 24 hours after he wrapped up a commanding campaign at the Tour of Denmark — three stage wins and the overall title, delivering a show of force that underlined his current form. “I think I showed this past week that I’m exactly where I need to be,” he said confidently.

With that, his team’s cautious approach makes sense. Pedersen remains a central figure in Lidl-Trek’s Vuelta strategy. He’s targeting the points classification — a jersey he previously won at the 2022 Vuelta and, more recently, at this year’s Giro d’Italia.

And while the criterium didn’t add another win to his palmarès, it gave fans a final chance to see their home hero before he heads into three gruelling weeks of Grand Tour racing. “It’s always a pleasure to race in Denmark,” Pedersen added. “You can feel the growth — cycling is getting bigger here. It’s a proper cycling nation now. Coming home and racing in front of these crowds, it’s always special.”

This year’s Vuelta a Espana begins unusually on Italian roads, adding a logistical twist to the opening stages. But Pedersen appears unfazed. His successful Giro campaign began similarly, and he adapted just fine — winning a stage and wearing the maglia ciclamino all the way to Rome.

He’ll be hunting for something similar in Spain: selective sprint wins, consistency, and ultimately the green jersey. With Lidl-Trek protecting his form and keeping him clear of unnecessary risk, the signs are pointing in the right direction. “The legs are good. The timing’s right. Now it’s all about Spain — and going all in for green.”