"We did exactly how we planned today” – Lidl-Trek on fire as Mads Pedersen picks up where Jonathan Milan left off at the Giro d’Italia

Three stages into the 2025 Giro d’Italia, and Mads Pedersen is already delivering a masterclass in form, power, and precision. With two wins from three days, the Lidl–Trek rider reclaimed the maglia rosa on Sunday, marking a near-perfect start to the Italian Grand Tour for both himself and his team.

Pedersen’s latest victory came on Stage 3, where he powered to the line to take another emphatic sprint win. After opening the race with a photo-finish victory over Wout van Aert on Stage 1, Pedersen now appears to be in the form of his life, and his rivals are struggling to keep up.

Van Aert, who was tipped as one of the biggest threats heading into the Giro, was dropped entirely on Stage 3, casting fresh doubts over his current condition. If the Belgian can’t rediscover his top form soon, it’s hard to see anyone matching Pedersen in the fight for sprint supremacy.

Speaking after the stage, teammate Daan Hoole expressed his delight at the team’s execution and early dominance. "It went really well today. With Pedersen back in pink it's a great day," Hoole told Eurosport. "We did exactly how we planned today."

Hoole, the Dutch national time trial champion, is riding his second Giro d’Italia and has been a key contributor to Lidl–Trek’s tactical sharpness so far. "The team was super strong so it's great that Mads could finish it off. A great start to the Giro. Three days with two victories and back in pink, that's really great."

Lidl–Trek are not just winning stages, they are shaping the race. The team already tasted success in last year’s edition, when Jonathan Milan claimed the points classification in 2024. Now, with Pedersen leading the standings and in unstoppable form, a repeat of that achievement looks well within reach already.