Mads Pedersen abandons Tour de France following injuries suffered in high-speed stage 5 crash
Lidl-Trek rider battled on despite injuries but was forced to abandon before start of stage 8
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) has abandoned the Tour de France after struggling with injuries sustained in a crash on stage 5.
The Dane became the most high-profile name to withdraw from this year’s Tour as his team announced he would not take to the start line on stage 8.
Pedersen crashed at high speed in the bunch sprint on stage 5 – where Axel Zingle (Cofidis) was seen bunny-hopping over him to avoid crashing too – and battled on through the next two stages.
In an announcement posted on Saturday morning, Lidl-Trek said that “the range of movement in his left shoulder has worsened, making it almost impossible to handle the bike.”
They added, “Together with the Team, the decision was made that it was in Mads’ best interest to stop racing in order to undergo more detailed examinations to assess his injuries further and give him the proper rest and recovery needed to focus on his remaining goals this summer and the final part of the season.”
Initial scans revealed no fractures after he crashed near the line in Saint Vulbas, but the sprinter looked worse for wear during the subsequent stages. Stage 6, finishing in Dijon, was another sprint opportunity but the Dane could only manage to cross the line 15th, with his injuries evidently hampering his ride.
He was awarded the combativity award of the day for continuing despite being battered and bruised – but that may have aggravated the problem, as the podium presentation delayed him from getting his dressings changed.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Stage wins for Pedersen had been a major aim for the American squad, who were depleted before the race even began. Their general classification hopeful Tao Geoghegan Hart did not start the Tour as planned, following a fractured rib sustained at the Critérium du Dauphiné and subsequent Covid-19 infection.
The sprinter had hoped to add to his two-year streak of Tour de France victories as well as to contest the points classification. He sat second in the green jersey standings before abandoning, 38 points behind Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty).
The Gent-Wevelgem winner finished seventh on stage 1 and fourth on stage 3, the first real bunch sprint of this year’s race, and would – under normal circumstances – have been one of the favourites on the lumpy parcours of stage 8.
Lidl-Trek’s General Manager, Luca Guercilena, added that the focus would now turn to supporting climber Giulio Ciccone, who won the mountains classification at last year’s Tour.
“It is a big bummer to lose Mads like this, after having lost Tao [Geoghegan Hart] before the start,” Guercilena said. “That said we will still be in the game with Cicco and we will work out the plan B to race aggressively.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
Collapsed lung, concussion and multiple fractures: Fundraiser set up for first ever Tour de France Féminin winner following crash
Marianne Martin crashed earlier in October and is looking to raise $20,000 to help her get back on her feet
By Adam Becket Published
-
Gravel riders - get ready, set, register! A guide to 2025's biggest gravel events and key registration dates
Here are the registration dates for gravel’s biggest events around the globe
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tadej Pogačar says blistering Sormano attack was 'planned' after cruising to fourth Il Lombardia title
World Champion ends his season on a high in Italy with 25th victory of the year secured at Italian Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish to conclude professional cycling career in Singapore
Tour de France stage win record holder to bring curtain down on racing career at ASO end of season criteriums in Asia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux, and all the route rumours for the 2025 Tour de France
Here's where the peloton may be heading next July
By Tom Davidson Published
-
How Tadej Pogačar created history and claimed cycling's Triple Crown of the Giro-Tour-Worlds
A journey that was supposedly fraught with risk and uncertainty was anything but for Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships victor Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Pogačar mania takes hold in Canada with 2026 Montréal World Championships on the horizon
Organiser of GP Québec and Montréal gearing up for Worlds returning to North America in 2026
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar misses out on GP Québec win on return to WorldTour action
Slovenian finishes seventh in first race back since third Tour de France victory
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson: 'I would like to go for GC in a Grand Tour at some point'
'It’s been everything that I’ve dreamed of so far' says American as he reflects on debut season with Visma-Lease a Bike
By Tom Thewlis Published