Mads Pedersen forced to abandon Etoile de Besseges as stomach issues fail to improve
Cycling
Mads Pedersen starts his racing season every year in France close to home and usually at the Etoile de Bessèges. Being a frequent winner in this race, and with stages very well suited to him, he oped to start his 2025 racing calendar this week but is leaving the race after struggling with stomach issues.
These have already became apparent on stage 1 where he had to take a stop not far from the finish because of it, and then did not manage to contest for a result in the punchy finish to Bellegarde where he was one of the main favourites. On stage 2, with an expected bunch sprint, the Lidl-Trek man was also absent from the action.
There could be hopes of his health improving and him still being able to fight for stage wins - today's stage could see another sprint, whilst the final time-trial is one where he won last year - but the decision has been taken to send the Dane home in order to recover and prepare for the upcoming races.
"Following his gastro-intestinal trouble on Stage 1, Mads will not take to the start of today’s Stage 3 of Etoile de Bességes," the team shared on social media. "He will instead travel home to recover and prepare for next week’s Tour de La Provence".
The team does not feature many options for the overall classification as Pedersen was also their best card, and will likely try to chase stage wins through aggressive racing in the coming days. Paul Magnier currently leads the race, after having won stage 1 and gained further bonus seconds last afternoon. At the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana however, the American team is currently in the lead after an impressive team time-trial and a superb performance from Mathias Vacek in the following day's queen stage.
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🚨 Update on Mads Pedersen.
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) February 7, 2025
Following his gastro-intestinal trouble on Stage 1, Mads will not take to the start of today’s Stage 3 of Etoile de Bességes. He will instead travel home to recover and prepare for next week’s Tour de La Provence.
📸@GettySport pic.twitter.com/rzeWFToMBT
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