Mads Pedersen: "It is clear that I cannot just follow and wait for what Van der Poel and Pogacar are going to do"
Cycling
Mads Pedersen is on extraordinary form and is perhaps favourite number three for the Tour of Flanders. However, he can still benefit from the pressure that will be on Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel's shoulders, but he must make the difference against them outside of the climbs.
“I am one of the outsiders for a good result. I am happy that they are here. They provide extra attention," the Lidl-Trek leader said in a press conference. The American team has experienced some bad luck and may not have the depth it had expected, but Pedersen himself should be able to carry the team to a strong result.
A very strong E3 Saxo Classic saw him ride to second, and last Sunday he soloed to an incredible victory at Gent Wevelgem, completely unmatched by the competition. "I won Gent Wevelgem without Mathieu and Tadej. So this will be a completely different race. You can hardly compare the two. I am doing my best and want the best possible result.”
Now in Flanders however the difficulty level is higher, but most importantly he will face two riders who are better climbers, are also in great form, and have virtually no weak spot. Going head-to-head against them will make it hard for him to take a win.
“Attacking early? For some, that is the right tactic. But the big favorites also attack earlier and earlier. Attacking too early is pointless. I can’t attack at 140 kilometers, that is pointless. It all depends on how the race will go," he shares.
"In any case, I will follow my instinct. But it is clear that I cannot just follow and wait for what Van der Poel and Pogacar are going to do," Pedersen anticipates however. "We have already seen that they are better climbers than I am. So I will have to do something. But I am not going to say that now.”
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We have some strong beers in the Lidl-Trek café this Sunday for De Ronde! Enjoy responsibly 🍻 pic.twitter.com/Et1lxNS4pm
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) April 4, 2025
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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