Giro d'Italia 2025, Pedersen's joy: "It's nice to have won the stage and the pink jersey"

Tirana (Albania), 9 May 2025 – There is always a first time: on the threshold of 30 years, Mads pedersen wears the leader's jersey of the general classification for the first time in his career Great Tour. In fact, it is the Dane who wins the stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia 2025, beating in the sprint those like Wout van aert with the second place he has an eternally open account. Bravo the former world champion, but even better his Lidl Trek, today at his complete disposal also in the figure of an energetic and enigmatic Julius Ciccone.  

Pedersen's statements

  The definition of teamwork today includes the entire Lidl Trek: including a Mathias Vacek who celebrates his teammate's victory, forgetting the strict rules in force this year. He also celebrates Pedersen, who are enjoying a result that was perhaps predictable on the eve of this stage but is nevertheless commendable: especially considering the many unforeseen events that occurred today, as they have well experienced Juan Ayuso and especially Mikel Landa, forced to retire in an ambulance. "It's simply fantastic to have won the first stage and thus wear the pink jersey. A success that came about thanks to extraordinary teamwork." Pedersen he then talks about the tactics used today by his Lidl Trek, who first rode hard uphill and then organized the final train perfectly. "The goal was to push hard on the last climb and reduce the group to then play it all in the sprint". Also paying the price was Van Aert, now the master of second places in spite of himself and a great rival of the Dane also in the recent season of Classics. "Wout he is always a tough opponent and when he is in a group he always has a chance to win, but today I had good legs and I managed to do my sprint". With the attached symbol of the lead, as never achieved in my career and in theory possible to defend even after tomorrow's time trial. "It's the first time I've managed to win the leader's jersey in a Great Tour and I'm very happy about it."

Ciccone's statements

  The ciccone he rejoiced at the victory of Pedersen, but only after the finish line and without the proverbial (and forbidden) throwing of the glasses. If today the Abruzzese worked perfectly as a domestique, what are his long-term goals? The answer was enigmatic and open to a thousand scenarios. "Honestly, I want to have fun and give it my all, without thinking too much". In short, a Giro d'Italia just in style ciccone, between flair and recklessness, but perhaps this time also without regrets for a podium that could be more within reach than in the past: in this regard, tomorrow's time trial could already mark a small but great turning point for a rider who, notoriously, in the fight against time is only called upon to defend himself.

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