"Whether Tadej is there or not, it will be the same" - Mads Pedersen unphased by Pogacar's presence in the monuments
Cycling
'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."
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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.”
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Fast and furious at Paris-Nice 🤯
— Velon CC (@VelonCC) March 14, 2025
Mads Pedersen won a dramatic Stage 6 that saw huge time gaps in GC and tense fight in the crosswind 🙌🏼
______________
🇫🇷 #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/HPHDSmeHLn
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
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.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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