It was clear from the first races of the season that 2025 would be the right year for him. And if the victories and good mood of the Giro d'Italia they had Mads Pedersen offered a joking and sunnier image than usual, there is no doubt that the overwhelming power he displayed in the Tour of his Denmark projects him into the Vuelta with exceptional credentials. The Danish of Lidl Trek he will be the man to beat starting tomorrow at the finish line in Novara.
Yesterday Mads met the press and the feeling of solidity and serenity that he… conveyed throughout confirms a level that becomes more solid year after year. He noticed it Jasper stuyven, which to carve out some space for itself, will move to the end of the year Soudal-Quick StepBetween Pedersen and Milan, too many doors were closing for him.
Do you agree that in Denmark you showed skills and numbers at the same level as in the Giro?
I'm doing well and the numbers are pretty good. It wouldn't be possible to win like we did without having all the numbers in place.It was a good test for the Vuelta, I felt I was in good shape and I'm ready for the next three weeks.
Viviani said you've worked hard on the uphill, given the stages ahead. Have you changed anything?
No, I didn't do anything different. I trained normally, tackled the same number of climbs and so on.The preparation wasn't focused on the mountains, but on being in great shape and being able to push myself hard for the necessary time.
What did the addition of Jasper Phillipsen to the starting lineup mean to you?
It is no secret that I would like the shirt red leader in the first stage and the presence of Philipsen will make it more difficultHe's one of the best sprinters in the world, and he proved it at the Tour by winning the first stage and wearing the yellow jersey. It will be more difficult, but nothing is impossible. I raced against him in Denmark and in the past I even beat him in a bunch sprintThis gives me confidence in myself and in the team. I hope we can start this race with a good result.
Do you already have an idea for a train?
Looking only at the latest to take action, there would be Sergeant in front of me and Dan Hoole in front of himBut everything will change from day to day, and obviously also depending on how the stage is run. So I can't list the entire lineup, but I hope these two guys will be there every time we have to sprint. But we're not just here for me. We're also aiming for the classification with Ciccone and the points jersey with me.
Did the team prioritize these two objectives?
I think we can manage the two priorities and share the work, the pressure and the results. We were proving it at the Giro, where we did an almost perfect job. Until the fall of Ciccone We were in a great position and we believe we can do the same, otherwise one of us would have stayed home. Giulio and I really think that together we can help each other.
You said the Giro was almost perfect, what would it take for the Vuelta to be completely perfect?
Cicco on the podium in Madrid, easy!
What can you tell us about your schedule this year, with the Giro and Vuelta and no Tour?
It made me realize that il Tour de France It's not allWe have a lot of races on the calendar and if the Tour de France is the main objective, then you may not perform 100 percent in otherAt the beginning of this season, I wasn't selected for the Tour because we wanted to go with Johnny (Milan, ed.) for his sprints. For my part, I wanted to make the most of every opportunity that came my way, including the classicsI wanted to put pressure on myself right away, start winning, and get as many victories as possible. Then came the Giro, and now the Vuelta. And I asked myself: Why not approach it with the same ambitions we had at the Giro? Also because half the team is the same as two and a half months ago. So we upped the ante to get the most out of it.
It seems that there is also a very in-depth reasoning behind the preparation…
Actually, I just do what my coach tells me, he's a smart guy: you should talk to him about it. When I run, I just try to keep a clear mind to try to win when possible And so far it's worked. Even if the Vuelta were to go to waste, I think the season has still been positive.
Does this mean you'd still like to return to the Tour?
It's the most important race, I'm not finished with the Tour yet. My goal is to win the green jersey one day. And then why should I put it aside? Just because I don't do it for a season? I'm not thinking about retiring or anything like that yet, so teams may have different plans that may change the following year. So maybe I'll return to the Tour next year, who knows?
