Mads Pedersen brings in third consecutive third place at Vuelta: "If you never try, you certainly won't win"
Cycling
Mads Pedersen and Trek - Segafredo have had a very strong performance at the Vuelta a Espana today, and once again they came very close to succeeding in what would be a meaningful stage win.
Pedersen was not seen as an outright contender to win the first stage of the Vuelta in Spanish territory, however the Dane has shown incredible form and had Trek - Segafredo ride in the front all day long. “The last climb at twenty kilometers from the finish was quite tough. The team rode at the foot there, so I could survive the steep part," Pedersen said after the stage.
Pedersen made it into the final hilltop, and with the consevative pace rode up the first half, he comfortably slid into second position as Kenny Elissonde led him out. It was a perfect day for Trek until then, but Primoz Roglic spoiled what would be Pedersen's first win in the Spanish Grand Tour. “Primož was clearly the strongest. To be beaten by him on such a climb is okay. I went for a top 10 place, so I'm happy with the result," he said however.
Pedersen has now finished second on all three road stages at the Vuelta so far. Although he's missed out on the win he largely closed the gap to Sam Bennett in the points classification, and has shown tremendous form which will be useful in the coming weeks. “The form is good. We are here to try and win the green jersey and every day we try to get points, and we did that again today," the Dane pointed out.
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"I have to thank the team because they were very impressive. I know I can handle those finals. It's difficult in such a strong peloton, but if you never try, you certainly won't win. We tried and finished second, taking points for the green. We can be satisfied," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Thwarted by Roglic, but cool him off because he's hot! 2nd place (his 3rd in 4 stages!) for @Mads__Pedersen!!! #LaVuelta22
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