OPINION | Mads Pedersen's national championships victory puts him ahead of Wout van Aert in cycling's big six

In 2025, Mads Pedersen hasn’t just levelled up, he’s broken through the ceiling. Already one of the most complete riders in the peloton, this season the Dane has left no doubt: he now belongs among the elite.

And not just among them, within them. The Big Six of men’s cycling must now include Mads Pedersen. That means someone has to drop out, and as it stands in my opinion, it’s Wout van Aert.

This may sound provocative, but the numbers, and the performances, are hard to argue with.

Pedersen’s season is close to perfection. His victory in the Danish National Time Trial Championships on Friday was his first ever in the discipline, and it came with authority: a 25-second margin over second place, with no serious challenge. But that title was just the latest addition to a bulging 2025 résumé.

He began the year by winning the overall classification at the Tour de la Provence, taking a stage along the way. He followed that with a stage win at Paris-Nice, then delivered a huge one-day win at Gent–Wevelgem, showcasing once again his excellent ability on the cobbles. At the Giro d’Italia, he was electric: four stage wins, the points jersey, and a near-total domination of the sprints and rolling stages.

And then there’s what could have been. Pedersen came second at the Tour of Flanders and third at Paris-Roubaix, beaten only by Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, the two undisputed monument kings of modern cycling. Had those two not been present, Pedersen could realistically have walked away with two Monument victories this spring. That’s the company he now keeps.

So who makes the Big Six in 2025? The updated list looks like this:

That final spot used to belong to Wout van Aert.

This isn’t a slight on Van Aert, who remains one of the most complete and admirable riders in the sport. Nor is it to say that his career is on the decline, far from it. His 2025 has been quietly impressive: he won the gravel stage at the Giro d’Italia and played a pivotal role in helping Simon Yates secure the maglia rosa. He will be a major asset for Visma | Lease a Bike at the Tour de France in support of Jonas Vingegaard.

But cycling’s top tier has always been defined by output at the highest level. Not reputation. Not versatility. Results. And this year, Pedersen has produced more of them, at higher quality, with more consistency than Van Aert.