Mads Pedersen secures stage 1 victory through a decisive breakaway in the Denmark Tour competition
The 2025 Tour of Denmark kicked off with an exciting first stage, taking place on the sun-soaked island of Bornholm. A total of 178.3 km separated the riders from Nexø to Rønne, with a hilly finale featuring repeated climbs that proved challenging for the competitors.
A six-man breakaway formed early in the race, consisting of Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise), Marius Innhaug Dahl (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development Team), Magnus Bak Klaris (AIRTOX-Carl Ras), Conrad Haugsted (ColoQuick), Mārtiņš Pluto (BEAT), and Julius Johansen (Denmark). However, Lidl-Trek, led by Mads Pedersen, took control of the chase, gradually reeling in the breakaway.
The final 50 km were particularly gruelling, with multiple climbs causing splits and attacks. Søren Kragh Andersen and Julius Johansen were among those who tried their luck, but it was Pedersen who made the decisive move with 35 km to go, followed only by Slovakian national champion Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Tietema Rockets).
As the race entered the final stages, a nine-rider group formed, including Mattias Skjelmose from Lidl-Trek, William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility), Niklas Larsen (BHS-PL Beton Bornholm), and the two leaders from the original break, Johansen and Klaris. Skjelmose played a key role in neutralizing late attacks from rivals within the leading group, preserving the sprint opportunity for Pedersen.
In the final sprint, Pedersen's power and timing proved unbeatable. He sprinted from a reduced group rather than a large peloton, showcasing not just fitness but team tactics. Lukáš Kubiš finished second, while Conrad Haugsted (ColoQuick) took third in the small group sprint.
Pedersen's victory not only sets him up well for the remaining stages, which are suited to his skillset, but also demonstrates Lidl-Trek's tactical strength and Pedersen's finishing speed and race intelligence. With Skjelmose providing crucial support in the finale, Pedersen was able to ensure a controlled sprint environment, ultimately securing his victory.
Dahl dropped from the nine-rider break in the final 10km run into Rønne, while Søren Kragh Andersen attempted to break away from the chase group, but was quickly reeled in. The nine-rider group fought valiantly for the stage victory, consisting of four men from the early breakaway and five who got away in the final 35km.
[1] Tour of Denmark Official Website [2] Cycling News [3] Velonews
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