Pedersen knows he should thank Van der Poel after masterclass: "We tried to push Mathieu to the limit"

Mads Pedersen gave a host of classics specialists a confidence boost with a convincing sprint victory over Mathieu van der Poel in Gent-Wevelgem. The world champion seemed unbeatable in the E3 Saxo Classic, and with that mindset, Pedersen entered the sprint...

"I wasn't entirely sure," stated the Danish rider from Lidl-Trek in the post-race flash interview. "But on the other hand, you have to trust your sprint because if we started attacking each other, then the peloton would catch up. So, I had to believe that my sprint was good enough to beat Van der Poel, and given his current form, that was challenging. It was a gamble. I started from the front because we needed to keep the speed high. Alpecin-Deceuninck had another option from the peloton with Jasper Philipsen."

Pedersen offers thanks to Van der Poel

Despite the stress, none of it showed in the sprint. He had also impressed on the Kemmelberg. "It was up to me or Mathieu to set the pace there. By taking the initiative, I prevented myself from going over the limit. That was advantageous for me. I hoped that we would end up just the two of us and then ride to the finish."

That's exactly what happened, and Pedersen openly thanked Van der Poel in an interview with Eurosport for their smooth cooperation. "We didn’t battle against each other for a long time, but against the peloton. We worked well together, for a very long time. At a certain point, I knew he would sit in my wheel, because it would also be fine for him if Philipsen came back for the peloton sprint. From there, I had to believe in my long sprint and not let him catch me by surprise."

Read more below the video!

Pedersen completes Lidl-Trek's impressive effort

A scenario that would ultimately materialize for Pedersen, after a race in which Van der Poel was very strong, but Lidl-Trek dictated with multiple cards in play. Jonathan Milan and Jasper Stuyven also made their mark along the way. "We did really well with three of us at the front of the race. Jonathan took the first attack and led for a long time, which was good for me and Jasper. Unfortunately, Jasper then had a puncture on the gravel roads. Despite that, it was a good situation for us."

"After the E3, we talked as a team about creating a numerical advantage, and I think we managed to do that," Pedersen adds. "We hope to build on this. I'm not necessarily impressed because I know what we're capable of. I'm very happy to be part of such a strong team, with so many strong riders. Jasper already showed on Friday that he's in form, and Jonathan did that today." Or, as he puts it to the NOS succinctly: "In our team, we don't have a superstar, but as a unit, we can beat them."

The victory in Gent-Wevelgem is certainly a boost for the team and for Pedersen. The Dane has never made a secret that his goals are not in such races, but in the Monuments to come. "Flanders is a different race. I still think Gent-Wevelgem suits me better. Nevertheless, my condition is very good. I was already very satisfied after the E3 on Friday, and this victory has given me full confidence for the coming weeks."

"I was surprised by the quick comeback of the peloton," says Pedersen

Pedersen emphasized in various media interviews that his team is in great form and that he himself is ready for what's to come. He echoed similar sentiments at the press conference, traditionally organized with the day's victor. The 28-year-old delves deeper into the so-called iron grip of Lidl-Trek - referring to the numerical advantage - as an interesting topic. "We tried to push Mathieu to the limit, while also ensuring that the gap with the peloton would be big enough. Then, in the final kilometers, with the wind fully from behind, we would have enough leeway. And we managed to do just that."

Read more below the photo!

At one point, Van der Poel and Pedersen had a lead of more than one minute, but at the finish line - despite both men pushing hard - it was just sixteen seconds. "I didn’t realize our lead was shrinking so quickly. I couldn't see that since I was mainly focusing on Mathieu and the road ahead. I was ultimately surprised they were only sixteen seconds behind us at the finish."

Lidl-Trek in the Tour of Flanders: could Pedersen also play a supporting role?

Moving on to the final sprint, which for Pedersen was better off - and indeed turned out to be - a long sprint. "A kilometer from the finish, I knew he wouldn’t take over. I wanted to start the sprint at high speed. So, it was my idea to keep the pace up, open the sprint, and prevent Mathieu from using his explosive power to wait until the last moment."

Van der Poel himself labeled Pedersen as a co-favorite for the Tour of Flanders, which takes place exactly one week after Gent-Wevelgem. "I have to say that races like Gent-Wevelgem or Paris-Roubaix suit me better because they don’t have as many climbs," Pedersen jokes, yet with a hint of seriousness. "Last year, I finished third in the Tour of Flanders, but I was far from winning." Pedersen doesn't rule out a supporting role in Flanders’ Finest in advance. "That’s always possible. We ride as one team, as one unit. We like to fight for each other. With such a strong group, we don’t have one specific leader. After all, a lot can happen. The team pays my salary, so I’ll definitely do what they ask of me."

Finally: a new victory for Pedersen, how will he celebrate? "I’m sure we’ll be eating fries and burgers. Our celebration usually involves eating cheat meals after a win. A real party will hopefully happen after Paris-Roubaix, once the cobblestone classics are over. Hopefully, we'll have something truly big to celebrate then."