Mads Pedersen Secures Third Victory at Giro d'Italia Amid Contract News

Mads Pedersen achieved his third victory at the Giro d'Italia, showcasing remarkable resilience during Stage 5 in Matera. After overcoming a challenging climb, he outpaced competitors Edoardo Zambanini and Tom Pidcock in a thrilling finish. This win not only solidifies his position in the race but also coincides with the announcement of his new contract with Lidl-Trek. As he prepares for the longest stage yet, Pedersen's dominance raises the stakes for his rivals. Read on for a detailed account of this exciting stage and what lies ahead in the Giro d'Italia.
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Mads Pedersen Secures Third Victory at Giro d'Italia Amid Contract News

Mads Pedersen's Triumph in Matera

Naples [Italy], May 15: Mads Pedersen from Denmark marked his new contract with Lidl-Trek by clinching his third victory at the Giro d'Italia, showcasing an impressive performance. After being dropped during the challenging ascent into Matera, Pedersen made a remarkable comeback, outpacing Italy's Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious) and Britain's Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) in a thrilling sprint to the finish.


With the pink jersey as a testament to his prowess, Pedersen solidified his status as the standout rider of this year's Giro d'Italia with a stunning win in Matera, completing a hat-trick in Stage 5 of La Corsa Rosa.


After falling behind on the steep climb, he regrouped with teammate Mathias Vacek before launching his final sprint. Pedersen surged ahead around the last bend, successfully fending off challenges from Zambanini and Pidcock.


Zambanini, who had a strong finish after a shoulder clash with Britain's Max Poole (Picnic PostNL), ultimately fell short as Pedersen's winning streak was confirmed in a photo finish. Venezuela's Orluis Aular (Movistar) and Italy's Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) rounded out the top five in this exciting 151km stage.


With ten bonus seconds added to his time, Pedersen increased his lead over Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) to 17 seconds in the overall standings, coinciding with the announcement of his new contract that secures his future with Lidl-Trek.


"The last twenty kilometers were incredibly tough, and I struggled on the final climb. I wasn't sure if I had enough left," Pedersen reflected after his impressive performance. "I knew I was still in contention for the win when I reached the top, but it took a lot of energy to catch up to Vacek. Thankfully, I had enough left for the final sprint."


The news of Pedersen's contract was a morale booster for Lidl-Trek, especially following the unfortunate withdrawal of Soren Kragh Andersen, who suffered a wrist injury in a crash during the previous stage.


Stage 5 began with an all-Italian breakaway, featuring Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar), Goisue Epis (Arkea-B&B Hotels), and Davide Bais (Polti VisitMalta), but they were kept in check by the peloton.


As the race progressed, Milesi and Bais were reeled in after an initial rise into Matera, with the UAE Emirates-XRG team, led by Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates, taking control on the descent. Their fast pace caused several splits in the pack, but the main group gradually reformed as they approached Matera.


As the gradient steepened, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) was dropped within the final 5km, prompting Red Bull to make their move as they entered Matera.


After an initial push from Roglic and subsequent position jockeying, Pedersen found himself deeper in the pack. However, he drew strength from the pink jersey and fought back as the road leveled out. Once he reattached to Vacek's wheel, who was wearing the white jersey for the best young rider, a third victory seemed within reach. The Lidl-Trek duo faced off against the Picnic PostNL team around the final corner before Pedersen unleashed his final sprint.


Despite a late charge from Zambanini and a strong effort from Pidcock, Pedersen proved too strong for his competitors, completing his hat-trick. "That was a really tough one," he emphasized, noting his impressive 60% win rate in this Giro. "Winning in this jersey is incredible; it's beyond what I expected."


Looking ahead, Stage 6 from Potenza to Napoli, the longest stage at 227km, promises more hills but ends with a flat finish, presenting another opportunity for Pedersen to shine. His rivals will have a challenging task ahead if they aim to dethrone him from the pink jersey.


Giro d'Italia 2025 – Stage 6 – Potenza – Naples will be broadcast live on Eurosport starting at 07:00 pm IST on Thursday.


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