Mads Pedersen settles for points as Kooij denies him a fourth Giro stage win: “I just didn't have the speed to pass them”

Mads Pedersen had hoped to add a fourth stage victory at the 2025 Giro d’Italia on Thursday, but found himself outpaced in the final sprint to the line in what turned out to be a perfectly executed lead out for Olav Kooij.

The Dane, who continues to lead the points classification, acknowledged that his Lidl–Trek squad didn’t have the firepower to fully control the finale. “We only had two guys for the lead-out, so it was all about timing,” Pedersen told CyclingProNet. “I told the guys that it would be better to keep me in front and that I would try to find a wheel.”

The plan nearly worked, but with 1.2 kilometres to go, Pedersen got caught out. “I got dropped… Vacek was still in front of me, but it wasn't worth the fight to find his wheel at all costs.”

Though he positioned himself well out of the final corner, Pedersen admitted, “I just didn't have the speed to pass them,” referring to Kooij, Casper van Uden, and third-place surprise Ben Turner. The Dutchman’s win was set up by a textbook lead-out from Wout van Aert.

“I can't tell you too much about Wout van Aert's lead-out, but in the end they won and that's what they wanted,” said Pedersen. “It’s hard to ride finals like this, but I’m happy with the result.”

Despite the frustration, Pedersen was generous in his praise of Kooij. “For me it is also nice to see opponents win. Of course I like to win myself, but such a final suits Olav Kooij perfectly and he deserves it… They executed it perfectly.”

While a fourth stage win slipped through his fingers, Pedersen extended his lead in the points classification to 177, with Kooij now second on 105. “I'm trying to get as many points as possible,” he said. “Everything I do is with that in mind.”