Mads Pedersen went in the breakaway at La Vuelta yesterday on stage 8, winning the intermediate sprint and taking enough points to lift the green jersey from the shoulders of Sam Bennett.
While there is a long way to go on this race, Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), though he is slower in the sprint than Bennett and only has a modest lead on him, believes he can now beat the Bora-hansgrohe rider to the points classification victory.
He said while some of his breakaway companions yesterday could have sprinted for the points at the intermediate sprint, he was fully confident of winning it, which he did.
“For them they could have tried to do the sprint but I’d have won it anyway," he said. "They just gave it to me. I also didn’t sprint on the top of the climbs to try to get mountains points, it wouldn’t make sense for me.
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“I think it’s like a general respect for everyone. They didn’t need the points, I needed them so it was easier just to give it to me.”
Pedersen added the stage was a very tough one, but his only goal was to stay clear in the breakaway and take the 20 points before dropping back.
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“The first climb was a real pain but luckily the legs were good. I managed to be in the first group over the top and the guys started to form the break so I jumped with the other guys. On the downhills I started thinking ‘ok Mads maybe it would be a good idea to go for the 20 points later on’ but it wasn’t easy.
“I’m here to get the green jersey now and to take a stage win. I’m pretty sure the goals are achievable for me. If I can get a stage win it will bring a lot of points for me and secure the jersey. I’m just aiming for that now. I'm only just ahead and the race is still a long one but we keep fighting and I'll try for more points."
Yesterday's stage - some 153km to a summit finish at Colláu Fancuaya - was won by Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who had also claimed stags 6. The Australian rider broke free from the breakaway to record his second win in thrre days.
Behind him, race leader Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) pulled clear from the select group, going for 5th place, with what looks like the other two from the big trio on La Vuelta 2022; Enric (Movistar) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), who finished 1:20 down.
Bennett finished alongside compatriot and Bora-hansgrohe team mate Ryan Mullen, in 162rd and 164th, both in a group at 28:54.
