A return to the podium he stood on last year at the Tour of Flanders may not have been on the cards for Mads Pedersen in 2026, though given the Lidl-Trek rider is still on the build after returning from injury it was hard to be disappointed with a strong fifth as Paris-Roubaix looms.
Pedersen was not far off the pace when winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG laid down a crucial move on the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont with 55km to go, just dangling off the back of the wheel of Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the acceleration continued to bite.
