Mads Pedersen Gears Up for Milan-San Remo After Injury Recovery

Normally, experts would circle Mads Pedersen’s name in red whenever he appears on the Milan-San Remo start list. However, this year the circumstances are completely different: the Lidl-Trek rider is actually racing his first event of the year in Italy after being out for six weeks.

The Dane began his season at the Tour of Valencia, but crashed in the first stage, breaking his wrist and collarbone. After a speedy recovery, he lines up at Milan-San Remo today. "I want to race. I’ve been given the green light by the medical team. I was determined to make it here. I have nothing to lose, so why not give it a try? I haven’t raced for about six months, so I will feel that. But I need to get back into race rhythm if I want to be competitive in the classics," he told WielerFlits, among others.

Pedersen is cautious about expectations for the first monument of the year. "It’s hard to say where I stand. Training is very different from racing. I’m going to do my best. You have to start somewhere. I always race to win, but sometimes you have to adjust your expectations. This is one of those moments. Still, I won’t go to bed tonight without believing in a good result," said the former world champion.

Injuries No Longer Hold Pedersen Back
The injuries that Pedersen suffered in feburary won’t be a factor, as he confirmed he no longer suffers from them. "The recovery went very well and I have no pain anymore. The team doctor was harsh with the movements because I had to be able to ride safely. My wrist healed very well. The collarbone was easy to fix: they just put a plate on it," said the 30-year-old rider, who was surprised by his rapid recovery. "Six weeks ago, I didn’t expect to start here. The doctors told me it would take ten to twelve weeks."

Finally, Pedersen also briefly looked ahead to the race itself, where riders are expected to face headwinds. "On the Cipressa, it’s easier to stay in the slipstream. That’s good for us, so you won’t hear me complain about that," said the fourth-place finisher of the 2024 edition.