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Follow us on GoogleHe had one mission today: defend the pink jersey in the time trial. Mads Pedersen, who impressed on stage 1 alongside his team and sprinted into his first-ever maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia, was determined to hold onto the GC lead. For a long time, things looked promising, but the final kilometer proved just a bit too much. Primoz Roglic ended up taking the jersey by just one second. After the stage, Pedersen reflected in his flash interview.
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“I can’t be unhappy with today,” the Dane began. “It was still a really good time trial. I was beaten by better guys. Of course, it’s a pity that Primoz takes over the lead by one second, but it is what it is.”
The rider, who already had a strong spring season, isn’t known as a true time trial specialist, and that’s why he’s satisfied with his performance. “For me it went perfect, so I can't find any excuses. There were just riders who were better and faster than me. Unlucky for me it was just one second too much, but that’s also cycling.”
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Pedersen remains combative and hopes to take back pink jersey tomorrow
“Those were painful kilometers,” the always-honest Dane continued. “The pink jersey may have given me wings, but apparently they weren’t big enough today, haha. It’s an honor to wear a jersey like this, and I did everything I could to honor it, but it wasn’t enough to keep. It’s as simple as that.”
Tomorrow, the 29-year-old will have a new chance to reclaim the lead, and he’s determined to make it happen. “We’ll do everything we can as a team to get it back tomorrow. I want to congratulate Primoz on the win, and I hope he can enjoy wearing it till tomorrow and then I take it back,” Pedersen concluded with a smile.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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