Alex MacQuoid
Two stage wins, the maglia rosa, and relentless consistency—Pedersen’s 2025 season is setting a new standard.
If we momentarily set aside the transcendent talents of Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel, there’s a compelling case to be made: Mads Pedersen is the most complete cyclist in the world right now.
The Lidl-Trek powerhouse has already stacked an impressive 2025 resume—22 days of racing, five wins, two points jerseys, a general classification (GC) victory, podium finishes in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and now, two stage wins and a stint in the pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia.
Stage Wins Earned the Hard Way
Pedersen’s latest triumph in Vlorë didn’t come easy. On stage three, he had to survive the brutal ascent of Qafa e Llogarasë—a second-category climb that typically spells doom for sprinters.
“I was in doubt when you looked at the stage before – I thought I would be on the limit,” Pedersen admitted.
But he held firm, sticking with the front group and uncorking a powerful sprint to edge out Corbin Strong. Just as he had done on stage one, Pedersen proved he’s not just surviving—he’s thriving in conditions that would undo most fast men.
Is this the peak of Pedersen’s career? The Danish rider, 29, deflects such accolades. “You guys say this every time a rider performs well…” he remarked. Yet the numbers tell the story. He hasn’t finished outside a top-10 placing in a target race since last year’s World Championships.
Pedersen acknowledges the terrain in Albania has suited him perfectly. But it’s clear—whether it’s rolling classics terrain or mountainous Giro stages—he’s simply finding a way to win.
The Team Behind the Machine
Credit where it’s due: Lidl-Trek is a finely tuned machine this season. Pedersen pointed to the return of team manager Luca Guercilena after a prolonged health battle as a key motivator.
“Every detail is looked into—bikes, aerodynamics, clothing. The smaller coach-to-rider ratio is also giving us more personal attention, which pays off big time,” he explained.
Pedersen isn’t just winning—he’s lifting others with him. He heaped praise on teammate Mathias Vacek, the current youth classification leader.
“This kid has a big future… I’ll do everything I can to help him win a stage,” he said.
Such leadership shows Pedersen’s maturity and his value not only as a finisher but as a mentor.
During the Spring Classics, the dominant narrative was that Pedersen was unlucky to race in the same era as Pogačar and Van der Poel. But now? He’s writing a legacy of his own.
Whether he claims the maglia rosa for good or not, Mads Pedersen is operating at the highest level in professional cycling. Just don’t expect him to say it aloud.
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