"Maybe Mads can put his foot next to them" - Tim Declercq confident that Pedersen can match Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert

Tim Declercq has made the switch over the winter, moving from Soudal - Quick-Step to Lidl-Trek. With the Belgian team struggling to perform in the classics, the 'tractor' will now be a key support rider for Mads Pedersen and he's sure the Dane can perform against the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

"It won't be easy to follow them as they go. Maybe Mads can put his foot next to them," Declercq pushes in an interview with Velo. "We have a strong team. Our goal is to get Mads into that final without pushing one watt more than necessary. We are not the absolute favorites. But if we can continue to improve like we did last year, we will become one of the teams to watch.”

Although not an absolute favourite, Pedersen will enter just about any classic as a big contender for a top result. This past year he was in the Top6 of Milano-Sanremo, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and World Championships. He's been incredibly consistent and took several high level wins throughout the year too, and could replicate it in 2024. Tim Declercq is hoping to be part of a successful structure in the one-day races as he once was in the past.

"But if you had asked me 12 months ago, I would never have thought I would change teams. So a lot can happen in a year," he continues. "I never heard a 'no' from them, but neither did I hear a concrete proposal. But it was known that they had to be careful with money. Partly because of this, several boys left the team. Perhaps it was time for me too to take a new path. I am very happy that I got an opportunity at Lidl-Trek. I am still very happy with the opportunity I got at Soudal Quick-Step, but it is also good to step outside your comfort zone and join a new and ambitious team."