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Former world champion Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) outmuscled the current rainbow-jersey-wearer, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), to take his second career victory at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.
The duo broke free together over the final climb with 35km to go, with the race coming down to a two-up sprint. Pedersen launched his dash first, and held off Van der Poel, who sat up in the final metres, defeated.
The win marked the Dane’s seventh already this year, in what has been a roaring start to the season.
“I had to believe that my sprint was good enough to beat Mathieu,” Pedersen said in Wevelgem. “With the shape he has shown lately, it was hard to believe, but I had to try the sprint and nothing else.
“It was a gamble. I took the front because I knew he would be happy, well, [Alpecin-]Deceuninck would be happy if the bunch came back with [Jasper] Philipsen as well. I had to keep the speed high and hope I still had the legs for a good sprint.”
Pedersen led the charge over the final ascent of the Kemmelberg, Gent-Wevelgem’s totem climb, towing the world champion away with him.
“Either it was going to be me or Mathieu putting on the pressure there,” he said. “If I could control the tempo, and not put myself over the limit, it would be more beneficial for me than letting him do it and maybe put me above the limit.”
The duo then swapped through turns to the finish line, holding off the peloton, who stripped their advantage from over a minute to just 16 seconds in the end.
“This confirms to me that the shape is definitely good,” said Pedersen, looking ahead to next Sunday’s Tour of Flanders. “I’m definitely confident for the next week.”
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