The 23-year-old did it
Mads Pedersen became the youngest rider to win the men’s World Championship road race since 1999. Óscar Freire was 23 years and 237 days old back then while Pedersen is 23 years and 285 days old. He is the first Dane to take the men’s title, joining Amalie Didericksen who won the women’s road race in 2016.
“A lot changes for anyone who wins the World Championships,” Pedersen admitted. “So, it’s going to change a lot for me. I’m finished with playing the underdog. I think that’s going to be pretty much impossible from now on. That’s a new situation and I have to race in another way from now on.”
The young rider managed to outsprint Matteo Trentin in a three-up spring alongside Stefan Kung. The Italian, a clear favourite of the three, was left stunned.
“I’m disappointed because when you have the chance to go for the jersey, you have to go for it 100 per cent,” Trentin said after the race. “One guy was better than me and that’s all, there is nothing to say. I can’t say I would have done something different to win. He was just better.”
Gianni Moscon finished fourth after delivering Trentin to a good position. Peter Sagan went off the front of the peloton too late and finished fifth.
UCI Road World Championships 2019 – Elite men’s road race results
1. Mads Pedersen (Denmark) – 6:27:28
2. Matteo Trentin (Italy)
3. Stefan Küng (Switzerland) + 2s
4. Gianni Moscon (Italy) + 17s
5. Peter Sagan (Slovakia) + 43s
6. Michael Valgren (Denmark) + 45s
7. Alexander Kristoff (Norway) + 1:10
8. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium)
9. Gorka Izagirre (Spain)
10. Rui Costa (Portugal)
