The Mad Mads Pedersen Thread

[E_F_]

So Mads attacked on Taaienberg to isolate himself with MvdP - kept rolling through - tried to put pressure on MvdP on Paterberg - got annihilated on Kwaremont. What kind of 1-dimensional chess is that for a game plan? Goodness gracious me, man. You either anticipate, or make sure you have teammates around and isolate MvdP, or you hang on for dear life and conserve all the energy you possibly can, how can that be so difficult to understand? This man is going to be hit with two nukes at RvV: Fat Man and Little Boy (also known as MvdP and TP respectively).

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I 100% agree. Mads is as strong as ever - thet's not his issue. His issue is his tactical sense which is non-existent. Time and time again does he burn his matches and spend way too much energy trying to race like Van der Poel. He needs to understand that he's not as good as Van der Poel and race accordingly. He would be much better if he realized he's not as good as he thinks he is.

I actually think that he has a small chance to win Paris-Roubaix if he stops acting like he's superman and instead wheelsucks as hard as he can and hope to get to the velodrome on the wheels of Van der Poel.

 

[Kazistuta]

Even though I understand the sentiment, I find it sad that we're sitting here hoping for one of the arguably ten best one day racers to wheel suck. I know we're in the era of phenomenons, but come on.
I like that guys like Mads and Ganna don't just succomb to the thought of wheel sucking as the only mean to beat VDP.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Even though I understand the sentiment, I find it sad that we're sitting here hoping for one of the arguably ten best one day racers to wheel suck. I know we're in the era of phenomenons, but come on.
I like that guys like Mads and Ganna don't just succomb to the thought of wheel sucking as the only mean to beat VDP.

I get where you're coming from, and we don't disagree. From an entertainment perspective I think it's great that Mads is approaching the races the way he is, but from a tactical viewpoint I don't get him. In the end, wins are all that matter. That said, I also don't think they it's necessarily bad for the entertainment of the race to have some sort of villain type of rider who always tries to wheelsuck his way to victory.

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

Yes, either you suck MvdP's wheel (WvA Roubaix 2023) or have another guy to wear MvdP out (Pedersen GW 2024, thanks to Milan), or you have a certain skill that matches or sometimes even surpasses MvdP's skill (Pogacar RVV 2023 on Kwaremont), or you have the rare occasion you beat him in a sprint (E3 2023 vs. WvA).

Those are the best tactics to try and beat MvdP. Riding along with MvdP in fine shape has a very small chance actually beating him, and that chance, at least in the bigger races, seems to get closer and closer to zero.

 

[tobydawq]

So Mads attacked on Taaienberg to isolate himself with MvdP - kept rolling through - tried to put pressure on MvdP on Paterberg - got annihilated on Kwaremont. What kind of 1-dimensional chess is that for a game plan? Goodness gracious me, man. You either anticipate, or make sure you have teammates around and isolate MvdP, or you hang on for dear life and conserve all the energy you possibly can, how can that be so difficult to understand? This man is going to be hit with two nukes at RvV: Fat Man and Little Boy (also known as MvdP and TP respectively).

Everyone should know by now that the primary thing Mads cares about is to seem strong and brave. Not to actually win races.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yes, either you suck MvdP's wheel (WvA Roubaix 2023) or have another guy to wear MvdP out (Pedersen GW 2024, thanks to Milan), or you have a certain skill that matches or sometimes even surpasses MvdP's skill (Pogacar RVV 2023 on Kwaremont), or you have the rare occasion you beat him in a sprint (E3 2023 vs. WvA).

Those are the best tactics to try and beat MvdP. Riding along with MvdP in fine shape has a very small chance actually beating him, and that chance, at least in the bigger races, seems to get closer and closer to zero.

I agree. The worst thing you can do is to isolate yourself with Van der Poel - and even worse: to do so right before Kwaremont. Van der Poel is better than you on that section, and in addition to that he recovers better, so why make the Paterberg hard when that's in favor of Van der Poel?

I think the only chance Ganna and Mads had yesterday was to work together and attack multiple times before the Paterberg/Kwaremont section. But if that's not in their strategy book, you try to make the race as easy as possible - not as hard as possible.

 

[Netserk]

Even though I understand the sentiment, I find it sad that we're sitting here hoping for one of the arguably ten best one day racers to wheel suck. I know we're in the era of phenomenons, but come on.
I like that guys like Mads and Ganna don't just succomb to the thought of wheel sucking as the only mean to beat VDP.

Wheelsucking is glorious when it helps you win.

 

[Didinho]

For me it’s okay what he did yesterday. One attack on the Taaienberg guaranties a podium spot. If he had wheelsucked most of the time, it could’ve been the same outcome. If he let the other group come back, you’re not in control for a podium spot. Plus now you know the real strengths of everybody and you can play it more tactically next week.

But then again, can he put his mind to some tactics for once. He’s got a strong team, make use of it.

 

[Peyroteo94]

For me it’s okay what he did yesterday. One attack on the Taaienberg guaranties a podium spot. If he had wheelsucked most of the time, it could’ve been the same outcome. If he let the other group come back, you’re not in control for a podium spot. Plus now you know the real strengths of everybody and you can play it more tactically next week.

But then again, can he put his mind to some tactics for once. He’s got a strong team, make use of it.

If you are talking about RVV, forget that. UAE and Alpecin are too strong.

 

[Netserk]

I miss Colbrelli. What a way to win your first Roubaix! Made the race so much better to watch than the last two editions.

 

[Netserk]

For me it’s okay what he did yesterday. One attack on the Taaienberg guaranties a podium spot. If he had wheelsucked most of the time, it could’ve been the same outcome. If he let the other group come back, you’re not in control for a podium spot. Plus now you know the real strengths of everybody and you can play it more tactically next week.

But then again, can he put his mind to some tactics for once. He’s got a strong team, make use of it.

This is why 2nd and 3rd shouldn't be on the podium. Only the winner.

Thankfully, that's the case for stage wins in stage-races.

 

[Arvid Falk]

Mads is strong as hell but he can't follow MVDP or Pog on Kwaremot, so if he wants to win Ronde he needs to be ahead of them both before last time up the climb. But especially UAE will keep an eye on any moves made by Mads because Pog sure doesn't want Mads with him to the finish.

It would be interesting if Mads could sneak away with someone like Jorgenson och force Pog and MVDP to do some work.

 

[RedheadDane]

This is why 2nd and 3rd shouldn't be on the podium. Only the winner.

Podiums usually include both 2nd and 3rd...




BTW, if you look at the results of the - completely not-at-all biased - poll, you'll note that everyone agrees about Mads' nationality.

 

[Netserk]

Podiums usually include both 2nd and 3rd...

When was the last time 2nd and 3rd on a stage stood next to the stage winner on the podium?

 

[RedheadDane]

When was the last time 2nd and 3rd on a stage stood next to the stage winner on the podium?

So, stage results are the unusual ones...
For one-day races, and GCs all the podium finishers get to, well, stand on the podium.
Yesterday was a one-day race, so of course Pedersen and Ganna got to stand up there next to Van der Poel.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Podiums usually include both 2nd and 3rd...




BTW, if you look at the results of the - completely not-at-all biased - poll, you'll note that everyone agrees about Mads' nationality.

AC should delete that poll.

Chances are Mads wouldn't have raced any differently, but I can understand if he felt, after the season he's had so far, that he had to race like that to prove to himself and others that he's still a contender in these races.

 

[E_F_]

He and Ganna even had the perfect reason to tell MvdP they weren't working: They each had a teammate behind! They would have been able to attempt to one-two him, if the chasers had caught up.

 

[Heston]

All 4 episodes of the Eurosport documentary are out now. It's a pretty good watch, very well produced. Better than the Netflix docs IMO.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm still not sure about his nationality, but the guy's a Madschine.

 

[tobydawq]

50th win! And in some style!

 

[AmRacer]

So he's in a fine select group of greats winning GW three times.

 

[Heston]

Winning in style. He will probably ride a naive race in Flanders now, but then again he's not beating Pog and VdP there no matter how he races.

 

[Didinho]

Insane ride again today. It’s a good Classics win to have already. If he can podium the Ronde it would be a super season.

 

[Panda Claws]

Should have gifted it to Milan.