Lidl-Trek team manager Luca Guercilena hopes Mads Pedersen reaches Milan-San Remo

At Lidl-Trek, there is still hope that Mads Pedersen can start in Milan-San Remo. Another scan of his left wrist will be done at the end of this week. Based on those results, a plan can be made going forward. However, team manager Luca Guercilena of Lidl-Trek also indicates that a scenario in which the Dane makes his comeback at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic in Harelbeke seems the most realistic.

Pedersen broke his left wrist and right collarbone in a crash in early February during the first stage of the Tour of Valencia. A more unfortunate start to his season was unimaginable. Due to the severity of the injuries, his spring classics season became uncertain. The recovery of the collarbone is progressing well. The fracture in his left wrist has more complications.

“Mads is currently training hard again,” Guercilena said ahead of the second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. “The situation is complex. Especially the fracture in his wrist is a problem. The medical staff will develop a new recovery plan at the end of this week. We hope that Mads will return to the peloton by the end of March, but the situation is complicated.”

That Pedersen broke his collarbone on his right side and his wrist on the left didn’t make the situation easier. “The wrist has direct contact with the handlebars and takes a lot of impact. That can be very painful. But we know that Mads is a ‘warrior’ and that he will push his pain limits to race again.”

For the past six years, Pedersen has always ridden Paris-Nice to prepare for the spring classics, while before that he had participated twice in the Tirreno-Adriatico. Both stage races are important to get race kilometers in the legs and to build some extra toughness. Participation in either of these stage races was not possible for him this year.

Guercilena: “It’s true that this is a disadvantage. However, in modern cycling, if you are well-trained, you can perform immediately in races. Many have already proven that. And this is also the plan that our medical staff has drawn up. We are convinced that when Mads makes his comeback, he will be competitive right away.”

Guercilena does not rule out participation in Milan-San Remo next Saturday yet. Pedersen finished fourth and seventh in the Primavera over the past three years. “I think that race may come too early, but never say never,” the Italian remains cautiously optimistic.

Earlier this year, in an interview for the spring issue of RIDE Magazine, Pedersen already indicated that Milan-San Remo is no longer really a race that suits his style, due to the way Tadej Pogacar and UAE Emirates XRG race it. However, the Dane believed that if he was in good form, he could definitely compete for the win.

“Just like in any race, you see in Milan–San Remo that the finale starts earlier and earlier,” Pedersen explained. “Since I turned pro, I have shown that this suits me and works in my favor. The problem is that Tadej made the long races much harder a few years ago. Last year, we saw that on the Cipressa. Because of his scorching attack, that climb played an important role in the outcome for the first time in decades. Thanks to Tadej, I simply have to improve my ten-minute effort if I want to get over the Cipressa safely.”

Before his crash in Valencia, Pedersen concluded that this effort on the Cipressa was not impossible for him. “Especially since I also saw Filippo Ganna manage it and then sprint for the win later. That gives me belief that I can do it too. Mind you, I absolutely don’t want to downplay Ganna. He’s a great guy and a fantastic rider. But I know I can do the same. That’s why I believe I can win San Remo.”

Guercilena emphasizes that the team doctors will determine in which race Pedersen should best make his comeback. “We hope that the end of March is feasible. When he returns to the peloton, he will be in good shape. Whether that is 100 percent is hard to say. Our performance team is working on that with Mads. And yes, when he then races the classics, we are confident he can fight with the best.”