Cycling superstar and ex-world champion Mads Pedersen was deleted from the Tour de France squad from the Lidl Trek team.
This was confirmed by sports director Steven de Jongh at the beginning of the week. Instead of Mads Pedersen, super sprinter Jonathan Milan will start for the first time at the Tour de France.
“We had to disappoint Mads. Both Mads and Jonathan wanted to drive the tour de France because it is the biggest race for Sprinter,” de Jong is quoted at the Dutch portal “Indeleiderstrui.nl”: “So it was not an easy conversation, but but You accepted it. “
Jonathan Milam is happy to participate in the world’s most famous bike race.
“Before the tour it was always either Mads or I,” the Italian looked back on the difficult decision: “We talked about it after the season and in the end the decision was made. The tour is of course a new challenge for me and I am happy Very much on it without putting too pressure on me.
Mads Pedersen had crowned world champion in 2019. At the Tour de France, he won a stage in 2022 and 2023.
Pedersen had to cancel Tour de France 2024
The Dane was also convincing in 2024, winning the overall ratings of the Étoile de Bessèges, Tour de la Provence and the Germany Tour.
At the Tour de France 2024, Pedersen had to give up after the seventh stage as a result of fall injuries.
Sprinter Jonathan Milan is supposed to ensure a stage wins at the great cycling classic. At the Giro d’Italia last year, the 24-year-old had already won three stages and the points.
The Tour de France will take place this year from July 5th to 27th. The big loop in France begins in Lille and traditionally ends in Paris.