Pedersen backs up his ambitions with a lap of Poggio, Küng opts for the exact same program as in 2023

We're already into the second month of 2024, which means we're learning more about the spring plans of the big names for this season. Mads Pedersen and Stefan Küng, two outsiders for the major classics, gave us a glimpse into their ambitions on Monday.

Before the season even started, Pedersen made it clear: he aims to win a Monument this season. The Dane from Lidl-Trek won his first race of the season, the Star of Bessèges, and will start this week in the Tour de la Provence, but in the meantime, he traveled to Italy to recon the finale of Milan-San Remo once again.

The former world champion has only raced it twice (finding it rather dull at first due to its 300 kilometers), but finished sixth both in 2022 and 2023. Along with lead-out and close friend Alex Kirsch, he completed the necessary kilometers on the Poggio on Monday in preparation for the race, which is scheduled for March 16 this year. He will also participate in the E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix.

No Küng in Kuurne, Sanremo or South Limburg

Küng is another rider who has been a fixture in the Flemish races for years. The powerhouse from Switzerland kicks off his year next week at the Tour of Algarve and then follows a condensed schedule, as he announced on Instagram. He will compete in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. "My preparation has gone very well so far, and I'm really looking forward to starting 2024," says the baroudeur, who has consistently finished in the top six in both Flanders and Roubaix over the past few years.