Mads Pedersen prioritizes supporting Skjelmose in Vuelta a España stage 5

During stage 5 of the Vuelta a España, Lidl-Trek rider Mads Pedersen prioritized supporting teammate Mattias Skjelmose over contesting the stage finish. Despite being considered a favorite for the sprint, Pedersen finished in a later group after struggling on the final climb.

Pedersen explained that his primary focus was assisting Skjelmose, noting that the effort required to navigate the race conditions left him with little energy for a sprint. Team director Kim Andersen noted that while Pedersen worked to position Skjelmose on the climbs and through potential crosswinds, the rider ultimately finished more than 10 minutes behind the winner, Matthew Brennan. Skjelmose confirmed that the team's strategy was to be proactive during the stage, even if it meant risking a difficult finish.