"Whether Tadej is there or not, it will be the same" - Mads Pedersen unphased by Pogacar's presence in the monuments

'Mads Pedersen - Chasing Cobbles' is a new documentary set to show the life and preparation of the Lidl-Trek star. One of the most outspoken and also talented riders in the peloton, the Dane is aiming for a monument win this spring and he remains focused in doing it despite having historical rivals.

And the truth is, Pedersen can realistically win any of the three monuments over the upcoming month. “They all suit me, to be honest. It’s hard to pick just one. I’d love to win Paris-Roubaix, but the others would be incredible as well," he said. And this does of course mean that he would have to take the better of riders such as Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, generational talents. 

"Whether Tadej is there or not, it will be the same. When we line up for a Classic, we have to believe we can win—even if Tadej is there," the Dane says. "He is the man of the moment in cycling and one of the biggest stars in the sport’s history. But he can be beaten, especially on the cobbles, because bad luck can strike him too."

Pedersen won't go alone however, having the likes of Jonathan Milan and Mathias Vacek as wildcards; Jasper Stuyven, Edward Theuns and Daan Hoole as very experienced riders capable of handling themselves in the heat of the moment. But if it comes down to Pedersen himself, he will still aim for the victories - as last year he did, beating van der Poel at Gent - Wevelgem.

"If you end up in a one-on-one battle with him (Pogacar, ed.), it definitely gets tougher. But he can also find himself isolated, or he could get a flat tire. That would change the entire race for him—and for us. So if we start a race already thinking we’re riding for second place, that doesn’t help us at all. We have to keep believing we can win, no matter who is on the start line."

All of this will be possible to see in the multi-episode documentary which promises to showcase a detailed insight into what goes into preparing for such achievements. "Cycling is a sport full of big egos, and team managers have to handle that. They can’t have 30 leaders on a team. There has to be a good balance between leaders and helpers. The team signed me for a reason—I’m here to win big races".

“It’s a complete look at a cyclist’s life. Not just the personal side, but also what happens behind the scenes and how many people are involved in getting one rider to perform at their best. Each episode will show that in a different way.”