Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) gained the bunch dash on stage 1 of the Critérium du Dauphiné to don the primary chief’s jersey of the race.
The Dane led from the entrance within the quick end, holding off Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Hugo Web page (Intermarché-Wanty) on the finish of the 172.5-kilometre stage beginning and ending in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule.
Pedersen profited from the work of teammate Alex Kirsch, who stored the tempo excessive heading into the ultimate kilometre, Carlos Verona, Ryan Gibbons and Toms Skujins, who put him within the good place to win the stage.
“Carlos did tremendous good there pulling – it isn’t straightforward even with two guys who’re going fairly quick to start with,” Pedersen mentioned. “Alex was controlling this lead-out to perfection and, after all, Toms and Ryan – additionally they want the facility to ship it – however Toms is doing an unbelievable job. The identical with Alex, and Ryan additionally delivered good as we speak so lead out to perfection I’d say.”
Pedersen will put on the Maillot Jaune heading into stage 2 however his lead of the Dauphiné will more than likely finish on the summit end on the Col de la Loge.
“I believe it is too onerous within the last,” Pedersen mentioned of the approaching stage. “Now with being within the lead of the race, I do not suppose anybody will let me in a break as properly. So I believe tomorrow we are going to management to respect the jersey after which we even have one GC man right here [Tao Geoghegan Hart] now we have to maintain them, and that is my job till stage 5.”
The win was Pedersen’s first within the Dauphiné in his second participation within the race and comes after an prolonged break, together with his final race being Paris-Roubaix in April.
“I had fun off and preparation for this and the Tour,” Pedersen mentioned to CyclingPro.internet earlier than the stage.
“It is a totally different strategy than final yr. I used to be staying house and coaching onerous to be prepared – no coaching camps or something, simply hung out with my spouse and focussed on coaching.”