"We still have some good opportunities to go" - Mads Pedersen showing good form and high ambitions after near-misses in opening weekend
Cycling
Mads Pedersen has targeted the Vuelta a Espana and in the opening weekend he's shown good form, going for the intermediate sprints and coming in a close second on both bunch sprints.
"The boys did a really, really good job today. Everyone was committed... It was not an easy break to control so they did really well," Pedersen commented at the end of the third day of racing. After a second place on the opening sprint, Trek - Segafredo committed to do some work and help reel in the numerous early breakaway, with eye on a stage win that the former World champion has been eyeing.
"Daan is always there at the end, doing the leadout and keeping us out of problems. And Alex - yeah, we know the story, which was pretty much the same again. He leaves me on the wheel of Sam," Pedersen pointed out. Pedersen was in the right wheel towards the end, that of Sam Bennett, but he didn't have the power in the final meters to go over the green jersey.
"Sam opened the sprint, and it was a headwind sprint, so I was like ‘okay, perfect’. I opened a moment later, but I picked the wrong way, I went to the right. I think [Dan] McLay from Arkea and Sam came a bit together and I got boxed in," he detailed "I had to stop pedaling and be a bit on the brakes and then go left and start the sprint again. It destroyed the chances at winning the stage," he said with some disappointment.
"But it shows good for the rest of the Vuelta. We still have some good opportunities to go". Despite the far from perfect sprint, Pedersen managed to ride into second place. Although he's lost some ground on Sam Bennett in the fight for the green jersey, he's managed to keep the gap tight at only 37 points - a small difference taking into consideration how there are 18 stages left, most of which will be in favour of Pedersen.
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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.
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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)...
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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#LaVuelta22 Repeat of Stage 2 for Stage 3 Bennett takes the win and @Mads__Pedersen a close 2nd. Mads is showing great sprint form!
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