Pedersen knows he has to take a different approach in the Tour of Flanders: "Van der Poel has taken a new step this year"

Mads Pedersen’s solo victory at Gent-Wevelgem was nothing short of impressive. With his third win in the Flemish classic, he now shares the record for most victories and has immediately positioned himself as one of the top contenders for this Sunday’s Tour of Flanders. Still, the Lidl–Trek rider is downplaying expectations—in Pogacar and Van der Poel there are two big favorites, after all.

Pedersen’s introduction to the big leagues came in the Tour of Flanders, when he unexpectedly finished second behind Niki Terpstra as a young rookie. But he doesn’t dwell on that memory much. “It doesn’t make much sense to keep looking back. We need to look ahead. Sunday is a different race, and I’m in a different position than I was in 2018. Back then I was thrilled to come second in a Monument—it was huge for me. But now things are completely different,” said the Dane during the press conference for ‘Flanders’ Finest’.

Seven years later, much has changed—especially in the career of the powerful sprinter, who went on to become world champion and has since stood on the podium of multiple Monuments, something once unimaginable. “Back then, I didn’t think I could even compete with the big guys. I was a rookie there to support Jasper (Stuyven, ed.) and John (Degenkolb, ed.), who were supposed to come from behind. But now I’m one of the outsiders, so it’s a different approach,” said the former world champion, who gave a firm answer when asked whether he’s entering the Tour of Flanders in the best shape of his life: “Yes.”

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Pedersen finishes fifth in his last race before Sunday, at a respectable distance behind winner Powless

Pedersen not afraid of Pogacar and Van der Poel: "We should welcome them"

He’s now one of the favorites for the cobbled classics, but with Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar on the start list, Pedersen knows Sunday’s race will be a tough one. Still, he’s not fazed in the slightest. “It is what it is—it’s not my decision. He’s here, just like Tadej. They’re strong riders we have to deal with, but that’s part of cycling. They also make the sport more interesting and more popular. We should welcome them instead of being annoyed or sad that they’re here.”

Two years ago, the Lidl–Trek rider was extremely aggressive in Flanders, opening up the race early and eventually finishing third. Will an early attack work again this time? “For some riders, yes. But races open up a lot earlier these days, and the big favorites are making their moves earlier too. That also means I can’t start attacking with 140 kilometers to go—that would be strange. It all depends on how the race unfolds, and I’ll try to follow my instincts.”

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In the E3 Saxo Classic, Pedersen finished second, behind Van der Poel.

Having your own plan is crucial: "I know there are better climbers than me"

Pedersen performed well in the E3, but had to concede defeat to Van der Poel. It was something of a wake-up call. “I can’t just sit and wait to see what the others will do. We saw it in the E3, where Mathieu dropped me fair and square on the Oude Kwaremont. I know there are better climbers than me, so it wouldn’t be ideal to try and follow them. I know they’re stronger on the climbs. I have to do something—but I’m not going to reveal my plan yet. That doesn’t seem like a smart idea, especially in front of the press. It all depends on how the race plays out and how my team is doing.”

But aside from Van der Poel, Pogacar is also a huge threat in the High Mass of cycling. Two years ago, the Slovenian dropped Van der Poel on the Oude Kwaremont, then powered past Pedersen. Can the Dutchman follow him this time if he launches an attack? “I hope we both can!” laughs Pedersen, who then goes on to praise the three-time winner. “It looks like Mathieu has taken another step forward. What we saw in Sanremo—he was super impressive on the climbs. So yeah, I think he can do it.”

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Mathieu van der Poel, Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogacar: the big favorites for Sunday?

"I can’t make the difference on my own, like Mathieu and Tadej can"

The dominance of Pogacar and Van der Poel means Lidl–Trek has to approach the race differently. “To beat these guys, we need to race with numbers. I can’t make the difference on my own like Mathieu and Tadej can. I need a full team around me, and we have to act as a unit to beat them. We need to be on top of everything to catch them. One-on-one, it’s going to be tough, but if we’re up front as a block, we can race differently.”

For the classics specialist, Paris–Roubaix is the ultimate goal—the race he wants to win most. But the Tour of Flanders would also be a worthy addition to his palmarès. “A Monument is a Monument. It’s important, and I love racing in Flanders. This race is special—especially for guys like me who love the cobbles. If you ask me which one I want to win the most, I’ll pick the one at the top of my list. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to win Flanders. If I end up winning Flanders and never win Roubaix, I’ll still be happy.”

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Visma | Lease a Bike - and Wout van Aert - were already scouting the Tour of Flanders.

Forming an alliance? "It’s good to know Visma is back as a unit"

One advantage on Sunday: the weather. It won’t be warm, and the wind could play a big role—conditions in which Pedersen thrives. “I like that. Sure, those summer days are nice, especially for training beforehand. But I think it’s great that it’ll be a bit colder and windier on Sunday.” He will have to do it without Jonathan Milan, though. The Italian is often a co-leader on the cobbles but won’t be riding Flanders. “There’s a reason Johnny isn’t here,” his teammate explains. “He and the team believe it’s better for him to focus on Paris–Roubaix.”

On Wednesday, Pedersen raced Dwars door Vlaanderen, where he finished fifth. His chance of winning slipped away when he couldn’t follow Visma | Lease a Bike’s move—something he’s learned from going into the Tour of Flanders. “Positioning is always crucial. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Taaienberg, Oude Kwaremont, or something else—if you’re too far back, your race might already be over. We saw it in Dwars door Vlaanderen. We were just a bit too far back, and it wasn’t even on a climb. But before we knew it, the race was gone.”

That classic was the first time Visma | Lease a Bike showed real signs of their old dominant form, with a brilliant team attack. That could potentially benefit Pedersen, though he doesn’t want to make any deals with the Dutch squad beforehand. “I think everyone has their own plan—and so do we. We don’t need to work together to get away together. The team directors who come up with the tactics feel the same way. They’d probably say the same thing: our plans are likely pretty close to Visma’s.” Still, he welcomes the strength the Killer Bees bring. “It’s good to know that Visma is back as a unit and ready for Flanders.”

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