13 is unlucky for some, but not for Mads
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It was on stage 13 of this year’s Tour de France, into Saint-Étienne, that Mads Pedersen secured his first Tour, and Grand Tour stage win in the process. Seven weeks later, almost to the minute, and the Trek-Segafredo rider won stage 13 of the Vuelta a España into Montilla. The number might be unlucky for some, but clearly not Pedersen, as he stormed to victory up the final punch, leaving his rivals in the dust. Friday night’s alright for winning.
2022 has been the Dane’s most successful year yet, with seven wins, as he delivers on the promise that he so clearly showed when he won the World Championship road race in Yorkshire in 2019. Picking his moment to launch, Pedersen’s acceleration in Montilla was such that his rivals were barely in the picture when he crossed the line.
Aged 26, it was time Trek puncheur finally started consistently picking up the big wins everyone knew he was capable of. Thanks to Friday’s victory, he is the first rider this year to win stages at two Grand Tours, and now has an almost unbeatable lead in the points classification at the Vuelta.
His advantage over Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) in the running for the green jersey? Just the casual 151 points. of course, he has been helped by the absence of Sam Bennett, but his ability to pick up points consistently means he was always likely to be favourite for this competition. If he keeps this up, he might well be the perfect challenger for Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) at next year’s Tour.
Second tier sprinters are not particularly impressing
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Friday’s stage was not a favourable one for the pure sprinters, with the kick to the line favouring a punchier rider, like Mads Pedersen. Yet it said something that the Dane was able to win it at a canter, with clear air between him and the man in second, Bryan Coquard (Cofidis).
It has not been a good race for the second-tier of sprinting, potentially because of the severe lack of bunch finishes, but when they have got their opportunities, few have delivered. Kade Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco) won stage 11, but Sam Bennett won two comfortably – with Pedersen in second, incidentally – before he was sent home with Covid.
Between the others, like Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates), Coquard and Dan McLay (Arkéa Samsic), little has been seen. Given the chance away from other options, like Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step…