Mads Pedersen

At Wednesday's team presentation, Mads Pedersen was the first rider the locals saw, leading Trek-Segafredo down a garlanded avenue through the Tivoli ...

Before the race he knew it would be difficult to win the time trial, “and I know that it will be difficult for me to pick up the seconds I might have to afterwards. “But if there is anyone who wants to achieve those goals in the Kingdom of Denmark, it is myself.” Even so, he was a dark horse for the win, even if his team had believed in his ambition and he believed in himself. There’s a purity to time trials – A to B, on the limit, as fast possible – but there are tactics too. The next year in Harrogate, he’d outlasted his rivals in dire conditions to become a surprise World Champion. The rainbow jersey is a heavy burden to bear, and at times Pedersen seemed to show the discomfort of carrying it. I know I can do a good short time trial, and we’re working a lot on the bike and equipment and aerodynamics …and then it’s up to me to get that yellow jersey on day one.”