“If I had to choose one race to win this year, I would like to win back the Worlds. It was a pity that I won’t be able to show my kids the photos from the Roubaix track with the jersey on – that was the hardest part of not racing all the races last year.”
The 24-year-old has other plans as well. Pedersen won the Gent-Wevelgem last year and plans to confirm he’s a Classics specialist. He has Jasper Stuyven to back him up and it works the other way around as well.
“Where I think we’re a bit different to some other guys is that we enjoy when the other one is winning a race, and we actually want the other one to win a race. For me, it’s not a pity if Jasper is in the finale. In Gent-Wevelgem, let’s say, if he jumped with the guys who were doing the sprint, I would be more than happy for Jasper to win the race. It makes us stronger to have two cards to play. This is a pair of kings – not a bad hand to have in a poker game.”
The stakes are high in this game and even more so when Wout Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel are playing. However, Pedersen knows he can win even against the very best.
“They are not unbeatable. I showed already that they’re beatable. I can’t beat them every time, just like they can’t win every time. But I know I can beat them, and that’s enough for me.”
Those are the plans for 2021, but there are other ideas the Dane has in his head. The 2022 Tour de France starts in Copenhagen and stage 2 route goes around Pedersen’s house – so that would be a truly special moment to wear the yellow jersey. And when talking about the Tour jerseys, we mustn’t forget the ŠKODA Green Jersey.
“I now see the possibility of doing it. One day, if the Tour is perfect for it and fits me well, why not? It would be nice to have the green jersey hanging on the wall when I stop cycling.”
How do you think Pedersen will fare in 2021? And will he claim that ŠKODA Green Jersey one day? Let us know your opinion!
