Mads Pedersen has won the opening stage of the PostNord Tour of Denmark. The Lidl-Trek rider beat Lukas Kubis and Conrad Haugsted after an exciting first stage. Pedersen is naturally the first leader in the general classification.
Today in Denmark, the first stage of the PostNord Tour of Denmark was on the schedule. The route went from Nexø to Rønne, covering 178.3 kilometers. In the final 50 kilometers, a tough hill had to be climbed three times, but it was still expected that the day would end in a sprint finish, although the classic specialists were not out of contention. Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen lined up as two of the strongest sprinters at the start.
Nexø) Rønne)Pedersen and Kubis launch attack
The day was shaped by an early breakaway of six riders, including Belgian Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise) and Julius Johansen (Danish national team) as the most notable names. The group never gained a big advantage over the peloton. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek, and Uno-X Mobility never allowed the escapees to get more than two minutes ahead.
The race truly ignited around 40 kilometers from the finish, on the second climb of the Helligpeder (700 meters at 7.4%). Pedersen attacked there and immediately brought Lukas Kubis of Unibet Tietema Rockets with him. Shortly after, Mattias Skjelmose, William Blume Levy, and Niklas Larsen joined them. They tried to bridge to the front where five riders were still leading.
Lidl-Trek takes control
The acceleration by Pedersen and company thinned out the peloton considerably, making it no easy task to reel in the attackers. After the final ascent of the Helligpeder, Johansen and Magnus Bak Klaris remained out front, with the remaining escapees and Pedersen’s group 20 seconds behind. The peloton, in turn, was 40 seconds back from that group. In other words, it set up a thrilling finale.
At ten kilometers from the line, the group with Pedersen, Skjelmose, and Kubis caught the two leaders. This formed a front group of ten riders. The peloton, seemingly realizing they now mainly had to limit the damage, was 55 seconds behind at that moment. The breakaway could thus battle for the stage victory and the first leader’s jersey.
Pedersen makes a golden move
Johansen tried to break away again in the closing kilometers but failed. He only caused Marius Innhaug Dahl, the 19-year-old Dane from the early break, to be dropped. Johansen launched another attempt in the penultimate kilometer, and shortly after Vercouillie also tried to go solo once. The Belgian’s effort was strong, but Skjelmose reeled him in just in time. This brought the race to a sprint finish.
Pedersen was clearly the strongest in that sprint. The Dane was able to celebrate his victory early. Kubis started the sprint poorly positioned and had to make up several places. In the end, he did manage to finish second, ahead of Conrad Haugsted.
PostNord Tour of Denmark| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 04:03:45 | |
| 2 | " | |
| 3 | " | |
| 4 | " | |
| 5 | " | |
| 6 | " | |
| 7 | " | |
| 8 | + 02 | |
| 9 | + 05 | |
| 10 | + 38 |
