Three-times In Flanders Fields winner Mads Pedersen will not be starting the race on Sunday.
The 31-year-old has a cold, Lidl-Trek announced on Saturday, so will rest up to try to get better in time for the Classics later this spring.
Pedersen was set to start Sunday’s 241 kilometre Classic as one of the top favourites alongside E3 Saxo Classic winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). In his absence, Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek squad will now refocus their efforts on the best possible finish for Jonathan Milan, third last year in the race.
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The setback comes barely a week after Pedersen finished an impressive fourth a week ago in Milan-San Remo behind winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). His top result in La Primavera culminated a remarkable comeback from a lengthy spell away from racing, due to breaking his collarbone and wrist in the opening stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
One of seven riders with a hat-trick of three victories in the prestigious Belgian Classics, thanks to his triumphs in 2025, 2024 and 2020, Pedersen’s absence means he will lose a chance to take a record-breaking fourth win for at least another year.
“So no worries about the wrist, it’s all due to sickness.”
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