The Pederslam: Mads Wins Stage 6 of the Giro
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With his win in the nail biter that was Stage 6 of the Giro yesterday, Mads Pedersen has accomplished what few pro cyclists have—he’s won stages at all three Grand Tours.
Yesterday, Pedersen, 27, a Trek–Segafredo rider since 2017, went stage hunting at the Giro d’Italia and came back with the win in an impressive fashion.
During the final moments of stage six of the Giro d’Italia, with only 250 meters to the finish line, Pedersen managed to catch and catapult past veteran riders Simon Clarke of Israel-Premier Tech and team Jayco AIUIa rider Alessandro De Marchi for the win.
Mads Pedersen delivers the ‘Pederslam’
This victory made Pedersen the 105th rider in cycling history to have a stage win in all three Grand Tours and put a period on much hyped ‘Pederslam.’
One might say Pedersen spoke his victory into existence. Last December, the 2019 World Champion told Rouleur “If I could win all three [Grand Tour points] jerseys, it would be something special. That’s my ego speaking [but] when my career is over it’d be nice to have the purple and the two greens.”
After the race, Pedersen credited his teammates for an honest day’s work.
“The Team did really amazing today, they were working so hard to make this happen.”
He describes the peloton’s chase to catch the two-man breakaway that was Clarke and De Marchi. “For a long time I didn’t think we would catch them, but we did with like 300 meters to go. It was pretty close in the end…it was really not easy to catch them,” said Pedersen according to a recent Trek–Segafredo post.
“For sure that was a nice race to watch in the end. I like the harder days like this, it’s good for the legs to push all day and then have a hard final,” he added. “It’s really special to make a stage victory in each of the Grand Tours, and finally I could take one here in Italy as well.”
But can Mads beat the Vans?
The 2022 Tour de France stage 13 winner isn’t shy about his ambitions or his goal to beat the best of the best. Pedersen took the top spot at the Vuelta a España last September and he’s looking forward to taking on his competitors.
“They [Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel] are the biggest stars in cycling right now, and I truly believe I am just below them. 100 percent. I know I can beat them - I have shown it already. More than once,” Pedersen said.
Between Van Aert, Van der Poel, and the Tour de France in several weeks, Pedersen’s got his work cut out for him but he doesn't mind, “I love what I am doing and I want to win because it feels right for me. That’s what I want.”
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