“Mads apologised to me at the finish” – Pedersen’s disappointment clear as David Gaudu stuns Lidl-Trek on Stage 3 of La Vuelta 2025

Lidl-Trek turned Stage 3 of La Vuelta 2025 into a full-team showcase, riding all-out for team leader Mads Pedersen over the 135 kilometres to Ceres. But after a perfectly executed lead-out, the Danish star was narrowly denied victory in the final metres by a resurgent David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ), who surged past in the last 50 metres to snatch the win.

Pedersen had entered the final corner in prime position after textbook teamwork from Andrea Bagioli and Giulio Ciccone, but a slight hesitation proved costly. Caught off guard as Gaudu launched his sprint, the Dane couldn’t close the gap in time and had to settle for second.

Pedersen, visibly frustrated, declined to speak post-stage, but his teammates were vocal in both their pride and their disappointment. “We rode an amazing race as a team, no doubt about it,” said Giulio Ciccone, who had finished runner-up himself the day before. “Our goal was to win the stage with Mads, and I think we did everything we could.”

Ciccone, who led Pedersen through the final 500 metres after a punishing effort from Bagioli, didn’t hold back in praising the group’s unity. “It wasn’t an easy finale. I started my lead-out early to launch Mads, but that’s how it goes — sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”

Andrea Bagioli echoed that sentiment, speaking to Feltet in the finish town of Ceres: “We did it perfectly. I did my lead-out, and then Ciccone took over through to the final corner. But Gaudu was simply the strongest.”

Even though Lidl-Trek came away empty-handed, their performance was a masterclass in commitment — controlling the stage from start to almost-finish. The final blow, according to Bagioli, came in the last 50 metres. “We wanted to win the stage because it was perfect for Mads. We gave it a go, we made it hard, just as we’d planned. But in the end Gaudu won, so chapeau to him. We’ll try again in the coming days.”

Despite back-to-back near-misses, morale within Lidl-Trek remains high. “The Vuelta is long, and we’re in great shape. There are still a lot of chances to come,” Ciccone added. “Mads apologised to me at the finish, but he doesn’t need to say sorry. That’s cycling. Mads is a champion, and we’re here to support him. We just need to take the next opportunities when they come.”