Mads Pedersen and his Maglia Ciclamino dreams

Up ultil a few weeks ago, he was racing, attacking, gritting his teeth over the cobbles of the Spring Classics. And the collective thought was: “What a rider Mads Pedersen is!”. And that’s exactly what he is. In an era ruled by generational phenomena, the Dane is often the best of the rest – and at times, even more than that. His only fault? Riding in the same era as Pogačar and Van der Poel, who tend to win nearly everything they race.

But Pedersen has never backed down. On the contrary, he has started responding to the phenoms with performances worthy of a phenom himself: long-range attacks, big risks, and hard-earned victories. Just look at Gent–Wevelgem: 55 km solo and holding off the chasing pack. Proof, if ever needed, that Mads is anything but ordinary. At Paris–Roubaix he finished third, and without a puncture at just the wrong moment, who knows what could have happened. His palmarès already boasts 50 pro wins, including a world title in 2019 (back when he wasn’t yet the complete rider he is today), three Gent–Wevelgem titles, and stage wins in all three Grand Tours.

Mads Pedersen at the start of the Giro d'Italia

At this Giro d’Italia 2025 – his fourth appearance – the Lidl-Trek rider is back with a clear mission: the Maglia Ciclamino. “I’m coming to Italy to win as many stages as I can and maybe take the points jersey. I’ve always liked the Giro, even though the weather can be punishing, especially the last time I raced it,” said the 29-year-old Dane.

That last time was 2023, and the ambitions were just as high. But after a strong start, he had to deal with an emerging star in Jonathan Milan as well as tracheitis, which forced him to abandon after stage 12. Still, he took a stage win on Via Caracciolo in Naples, completing his set of Grand Tour stage victories, after successes in the Tour and the Vuelta the year before.

For this year’s Giro, Lidl–Trek will be all in, with Giulio Ciccone fighting for GC and Pedersen for the sprints. And since he’s skipping the Tour de France, we can expect him to ride full gas all the way to Rome. His strength? Being a so-called “all-rounder”: he’s a finisseur, a rouleur, a diesel engine with a kick, a champion who thrives when the terrain gets tricky. He can win in bunch sprints, in reduced groups and in solo breakaways. The Maglia Ciclamino is no easy prize – with Milan, Merlier, and Kooij in the mix, every point will be fought over. But Pedersen doesn’t need the pure flat stages to shine. He just needs hard racing and a gritty finish. With his form and his team, he will be in the hunt every single day.