Denmark is one of the few teams that will go into the men's Olympic Games Road Race with four riders. It is a very complete team with strong riders and a strong leader in Mads Pedersen that doesn't come into the race with modest ambitions; but instead is focused on the victory.
"I'm here to win. The climbs are tough enough to drain our energy a bit," Pedersen said in words to TV2. "That's good for me, if it's going to be a tough race. I also always like a technical course like the one in Paris".
Pedersen is a specialist in the one-day races and classics, and it can be argued that this is a virtually perfect course for him. The Dane first came into the scene with a huge surprising victory at the 2019 World Championships in Yorkshire that was a race marked by the long distances and constant non-steep climbs.
Pedersen has since evolved into a rider that is very consistent in the cobbled classics. This year he won Gent-Wevelgem, finished third at Paris-Roubaix and fourth in Milano-Sanremo. Last season he was fourth in the World Championships and Paris-Roubaix and finished in the Top10 of Milano-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, European Championships, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem; besides victories in races including the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.
Few riders can do what he does, and if he achieves the same level he will be a clear contender for victory in Paris. Alongside Mattias Skjelmose and Mikkel Bjerg the team has the chance to race on the attack from far and put others under pressure. Pedersen hasn't raced since the first week of the Tour de France where he abandoned due to a crash but that hasn't lowered his ambitions.
Support for Pedersen
Traditionally one of the most chaotic and hard to predict races on the entire racing calendar, the men's road race at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has the potential to be an absolute thriller. Although Denmark will start with multiple potential gold medal winning options, Mattias Skjelmose insists the team are in supporting Mads Pedersen.
“As I understand it from both him and his coach, he must be 110 percent ready to perform next Saturday. I have spoken to him a bit. I wrote to him and told him that regardless of what happens, we support him 100 percent for the Olympics," Skjelmose told Danish outlet BT ahead of this Saturday's road race, where the aforementioned Lidl-Trek duo will be joined Mikkel Bjerg and the experienced Michael Morkov in his final Olympic Games.
Pedersen's Challenge
Whilst ordinarily, Pedersen would start as one of the main favourites for gold alongside the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Biniam Girmay and Tom Pidcock among others, crashing out injured of the 2024 Tour de France was far from ideal preparation for the former world champion.
“It wasn't nice to see him go down, of course, but I think it was reassuring that he started the next two days. I think he went out with a view to being as ready as possible for the Olympics. It gave me even more confirmation that he must be there,” assesses former Danish champion Skjelmose of his team leader's potential to claim Olympic gold in Paris.
Pedersen's Determination
Despite the setbacks, Pedersen remains focused on his goal. His unwavering determination and commitment to winning are evident in his words, "I'm here to win." He's not just participating; he's aiming for the highest podium spot. His belief in himself and the support of his team give him a fighting chance to achieve this. The race will be tough, but Pedersen is ready to rise to the challenge.
The Olympic Games are just around the corner, and the world of cycling is watching. Will Mads Pedersen overcome his recent challenges and rise to the occasion? The stage is set for an exciting race, and the anticipation is high. Only time will tell if Pedersen's unwavering determination and skillful riding will lead him to Olympic gold.
