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Pedersen's gamble backfires in Tour de France points race
🇩🇰 Denmark /Sports

Pedersen's gamble backfires in Tour de France points race

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Jasper Philipsen won the 17th stage of the Tour de France, significantly narrowing Mads Pedersen's lead in the points classification.
  • Pedersen's aggressive riding earlier in the stage cost him energy, resulting in an eighth-place finish and a substantial point loss.
  • The competition for the green jersey is now wide open, with only seven points separating Pedersen and Philipsen.

Mads Pedersen experienced a "terrible day" at the Tour de France after Jasper Philipsen's victory on stage 17 drastically reduced Pedersen's lead in the points classification. Philipsen's win earned him 50 valuable points, leaving Pedersen with only a seven-point advantage. Pedersen had attempted an offensive move earlier in the stage, distancing Philipsen in an intermediate sprint, but this effort proved too costly, leading to his eighth-place finish at the line. "It was a terrible day. It was an expensive day in terms of points, and it's super disappointing," Pedersen stated, lamenting that his energetic effort yielded no significant gain. He added, "It doesn't matter if we don't finish the job. It was a bad day and a big point loss, and it wasn't what we hoped for. We have to look forward to the next days."

It was a terrible day. It was an expensive day in terms of points, and it's super disappointing

— Mads PedersenPedersen's reaction to losing significant ground in the points classification after stage 17.

Sports director Kim Andersen echoed Pedersen's disappointment, noting the significant energy expenditure of the stage. The team had initially managed to isolate Philipsen in a group behind Pedersen. However, the strong efforts of the Decathlon team in support of sprinter Olav Kooij led to the groups merging. "We knew it would be difficult. We didn't expect Decathlon to go in so wholeheartedly. Without their involvement, I think we would have had it," Andersen commented.

It doesn't matter if we don't finish the job. It was a bad day and a big point loss, and it wasn't what we hoped. We have to look forward to the next days

— Mads PedersenPedersen's assessment of the stage's outcome and his team's performance.

The close seven-point gap between Pedersen and Philipsen has thrown the race for the green jersey wide open. Andersen noted that upcoming stages feature intermediate sprints positioned after difficult climbs, which could favor Pedersen. "He's better there. But he's not invincible, so it might be that we have to wait until Paris to decide it," Andersen said.

We knew it would be difficult. We didn't expect Decathlon to go in so wholeheartedly. Without their involvement, I think we would have had it

— Kim AndersenThe sports director's analysis of the tactical situation and the impact of another team's efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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