Mads
Pedersen

Mads Pedersen did not take long to make a mark in pro cycling. Since joining the Trek family five seasons ago, Mads has grown into one of the figureheads of the Lidl-Trek team thanks to his cocksure yet loveable attitude. In his first year with Lidl-Trek, he won the Danish National road title and Tour of Denmark. A year later, he finished second in the 2018 Tour of Flanders, arguably the toughest one-day race on the calendar, and in 2019 shocked the cycling world, becoming the first Dane to win the men's World Championships road race. Mads wore the coveted rainbow jersey into the pandemic-altered 2020 season and successfully shouldered the added pressure that comes with the distinguished stripes. Keeping both feet grounded, he was a crucial support in Richie Porte's emotional third-place finish in the Tour de France. Mads' biggest goal - the Classics - was scheduled after the Tour and Worlds Championships in the altered year, and he did not disappoint, taking a massive win in Gent-Wevelgem. In 2021, Mads added another prestigious Classic to his palmarès: Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. The Dane enjoyed his most successful, and most consistent, season in 2022. He claimed nine victories, including a stage of the Tour de France and three stages of the Vuelta a España, along with the points classification. After a strong 2023 Classics season and a stage win at the Giro d'Italia, Pedersen is in the midst of making his latest season another one to remember.