Lidl-Trek dominate in Denmark as Skjelmose and Pedersen secure one-two finish

Mattias Skjemose is the new leader of the 2023 Tour of Denmark after a display of domination from Lidl-Trek saw Danish duo Skjelmose and Mads Pedersen take a one-two.

Stage 3 is a traditional Denmark day. The riders find the Velje circuit, a very difficult one where the GC has in the past been decided. That may happen again on this day, although it's not terribly hard it features two laps of a very punchy final circuit with multiple climbs and steep gradients. Additionally, the day is also 209 kilometres long which will weigh heavy in the legs of some.

Seven riders rode clear early on, forming the breakaway of the day although the peloton was keeping a relatively firm leash at around 3 minutes.

With 48km to go they had been caught and Mads Pedersen immediately launched a counter-attack as Lidl-Trek tried to put race leader Søren Wærenskjold into difficulty.

Whilst that move ultimately came to nothing, the repeated one-two attacks by Pedersen and teammate Mattias Skjelmose finally seemed to have broken Wærenskjold as Pedersen rode clear with just over 20km to go.

Just as Skjelmose attempted to get across to Pedersen, disaster struck for Wærenskjold as the Uno-X rider suffered a puncture.

Heading into the final 10 kilometres, Pedersen held a 30-second lead over the nearest group of chasers. Not long after, Skjelmose again made a move to try and bridge the gap.

With just over 7km to go, Skjelmose and Pedersen reunited together upfront, immediately putting the hammer down in a two-up time-trial.

Arguably the premier Danish rider and the Danish national champion riding together to a dominant victory and the overall lead of the Tour of Denmark, it was as if it was scripted.

Just 1km left and the leading duo's advantage had extended to over half a minute. The only question remaining was which one would take the win. In the final few hundred metres, Pedersen began to struggle to hold the wheel gifting the win to his teammate.