Milano-San Remo comes too soon for recovering Mads Pedersen

Lidl-Trek still left the door slightly open, but now it is clear that Mads Pedersen will not start this Saturday’s Milan-San Remo. This was confirmed by team director Kim Andersen to Sporza.

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

Initially, there was still hope within Lidl-Trek that Pedersen could start Milan-San Remo. However, team manager Luca Guercilena of Lidl-Trek also indicated that a scenario where the Dane makes his comeback at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic in Harelbeke is the most realistic.

"He’s working himself to the bone"
A few days have passed now and there is clarity regarding Milan-San Remo: the Italian classic is still too early. "He’s doing what he can," explains team director Andersen. "He’s definitely pushing himself hard. It’s hard to say when he will return. The only thing I can say is that he is working incredibly hard to come back as soon as possible."

"We’re trying to make the Flemish races, that’s on his mind," Andersen adds. "There’s nothing more he can do than what he’s doing now. We hope to race in Belgium. He’s giving a very good impression and is very motivated."