With Lidl-Trek lacking their Tour de France GC chief after Tao Geoghegan-Hart after the British rider was hit by COVID-19 and a fractured rib, the group has recalibrated their objectives for the race.
Stage searching would be the goal, with the likes of Toms Skujins, 2023 king of the mountains Giulio Ciccone, and two-time stage winner Mads Pedersen main the US group’s cost.
The former world champion Pedersen, who has taken a stage win at every of the previous two Tours, will even be handed larger leeway – and larger assist – as he battles for extra victories along with difficult reigning factors classification champion Jasper Philipsen for the inexperienced jersey.
Philipsen took a complete inexperienced jersey win final summer season, 119 factors forward of Pedersen in Paris, however the Dane has outlined one other tilt on the competitors as a aim for this yr’s race.
“It’s a very good possibility,” Pedersen stated of the purpose classification at Lidl-Trek’s pre-Tour press occasion at a Lidl grocery store on the outskirts of Florence on Thursday.
“I’m climbing rather well. I do know Jasper remains to be a quicker sprinter than me, however I’ll attempt to seize as many factors as potential and keep within the sport of the inexperienced jersey.
“Of course, the inexperienced jersey comes with making an attempt to win as many phases as potential, in order that’s positively our most important aim – to win as a lot as potential. We will see the way it performs out.”
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Pedersen acknowledged that improved climbing was on present on the Critérium du Dauphiné final month, the place he gained the opening dash stage and put in loads of work for group chief Ciccone within the closing mountain phases.
He’s misplaced weight, although not an excessive amount of to be a detriment to his top-end sprinting velocity, he stated.
“The weight is a bit decrease than final yr. I skilled a bit extra within the mountains mixed with lots of sprinting and motor pacing additionally. I’m used to climbing in coaching and it provides additionally just a little little bit of assist while you begin to climb within the races,” Pedersen stated.
“The velocity remains to be there. We saved it on a very good stage, I might say, as a result of we positively do not wish to be higher at climbing after which take away the sprinting.
“But climbing higher does not imply that you simply get sufficient factors to get a inexperienced jersey. To try this, you must win some sprints, or not less than be up there each time. Last yr, we had lots of phases at first, the place I completed eighth, tenth, one thing like this. That’s not sufficient. I’ve to be the highest three or prime 5 in each dash we do to maintain sufficient factors to get within the mixture of the inexperienced jersey.”
Pedersen revealed that he had a COVID-19 an infection within the aftermath of the Dauphiné however stated it had not hindered his Tour preparation.
“It hits some individuals laborious and a few individuals it doesn’t, I used to be not affected quite a bit,” Pedersen stated. “I had just a few days off the bike, and I wanted to relaxation anyway, and even driving with it was not an issue for me, I used to be fortunate and hopefully I don’t get something throughout the Tour.”
Pedersen’s battle for inexperienced – and stage wins – could nicely start on the primary stage of the Tour, a hilly 206km run from Florence to Rimini. The stage options seven labeled climbs, together with three second-category hills, and a last climb – the 7km, 4.7% Côte de San Marino – coming 25km from the end.
The stage could also be too powerful for the pure sprinters, and perhaps for Pedersen, too, regardless of his improved climbing. He and Lidl-Trek will give their finest effort, although, even when his probabilities of opening day success may hinge on the actions of rival groups.
“I might say that we are able to take the prospect,” Pedersen stated. “Now, with no GC guys, it is unnecessary to not strive. I do know it’s going to be on the restrict if not over the restrict, so all the pieces has to play in our favour, however it additionally can be silly simply to take a seat up on the backside and say ‘OK, I am unable to make it’.
“I will not sit right here and say, ‘Yes, I can win that stage’ as a result of I understand how powerful it’s. If I’ve to do a end result, then it actually is dependent upon how all of the groups wish to race the final climb. So, it is open, it is of their palms if I’ll make it or not. Especially UAE – in the event that they wish to win already on day one, and in the event that they go full from the underside to the highest, then I do not know – I’m not going to outlive.
“We all simply should see what the scenario is on the highest after which we now have to see if we are able to do injury management or not. We can discuss for hours about that, however it all comes all the way down to Saturday how it will likely be laid out.”
Whatever the result of the Tour’s first stage this weekend, Pedersen’s focus over the following three weeks is absolutely on the race, reasonably than August’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Of course, the highway race there might be a significant aim as he appears to be like so as to add a gold medal to his 2019 rainbow jersey, however his preparation for the Olympics will largely comply with final yr’s schedule, the place he accomplished the Tour after which took fourth on the Glasgow World Championships two weeks later.
“Right now, I’m right here for the Tour and centered on the Tour,” Pedersen stated. “I feel it is good for me to maintain racing regular and laborious within the Tour. I feel that is the most effective preparation for the Olympics.
“We noticed final yr with the World Championships – it is the identical timing, it is two weeks after the Tour. It went fairly nicely final yr so why change this recipe of racing and coaching earlier than an essential aim? So, the Olympics might be my focus after we end the time trial in Nice.”