The Danish Olympic Committee has introduced three of its chosen riders for this yr’s Olympic Video games in Paris, naming Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen and Mattias Skjelmose to the staff of 4 that can compete within the street race.
The staff, chosen by the Danish Biking Union (DCU), may even embrace lead-out man Michael Mørkøv, who rides for Astana Qazaqstan, not just for his abilities in ushering sprinters to victory however as a result of he’s additionally on account of compete in monitor biking occasions – an element distinctive to the Olympics which severely restrict the variety of athletes that may compete in every sport.
That leaves one remaining spot for the lads’s staff to be determined earlier than July.
Jonas Vingegaard, who scored the vast majority of the factors that earned Denmark their 4 entries for Paris and expressed curiosity in driving, had a large setback this week when he crashed within the Itzulia Basque Nation on stage 4 and suffered damaged ribs, a punctured lung and damaged collarbone.
“I’ve instructed Anders [Lund] that I’m fascinated about driving. However he defined to me that it’s not sure that I will probably be chosen, even when I wish to. I additionally perceive that effectively,” Vingegaard stated in November.
Nationwide coach Anders Lund considered the street route, which has a Spring Classics flavour with a brief however steep cobbled climb, as a way to make the choice.
“I used to be in Paris final week to examine the route and was fully blown away,” Lund stated in a press launch from the DCU. “There are many slim streets on the ultimate laps in Paris with a cobblestone climb as much as Montmartre shortly earlier than the end. That route is absolutely good for Mads, and I take into account him one of many absolute favourites of the race.”
Skjelmose, at present main the Itzulia Basque Nation after 5 phases, is within the midst of a breakthrough season after ending fourth in Paris-Good and profitable a stage.
“Mattias is simply creating on a regular basis,” Lund stated. “He’s good in stage races, however he additionally performs very well within the robust one-day races. Amongst different issues, on the final two World Championships. He has to assist Mads, however Mattias additionally helps Mads by being a risk to the opposite nations’ favourites within the remaining.
“Along with being actually good within the street race, Mattias can even compete with one of the best on the planet within the time trial. The early choice permits Mattias to make an optimum preparation in order that he might be in high kind for the Olympics.”
Mørkøv, who along with Norman Lasse Leth received the Madison on the Tokyo Olympics, would usually be on account of reprise that position in Paris. Nevertheless, the variety of allowed riders for the monitor has been diminished for this yr’s Olympics. With the intention to maintain the entire essential riders for the Group Pursuit and Omnium and be capable to discipline a staff within the Madison, Mørkøv is being formally entered as a street bike owner and might be ‘borrowed’ by the monitor staff for the Madison underneath the foundations.
“The choice of Michael relies on a consideration of the general Danish Olympic medal ambitions throughout the biking disciplines. However having stated that, Michael additionally has some actually good abilities on the street, which we’ll profit from in Paris,” Lund stated.
“On the final three championships on the street, Michael has completed exemplary help work for the Danish nationwide staff. Michael’s huge expertise and distinctive skill to pilot his captain gently by an extended street race will undoubtedly be beneficial to Mads Pedersen’s possibilities of profitable the medal we dream of.”
The fourth and remaining rider for the lads’s street race is scheduled to be chosen in early June. Along with the 4 locations within the street race, Denmark has additionally secured two locations within the time trial. These two riders should be taken from the 4 who line up within the street race.
