Denmark, controversy over the awarding of the runner of the year award to Pedersen: “Mads is highly appreciated, but is it a popularity contest or is it based on results?”

The awarding of the Danish runner of the year award to Mads Pedersen. The standard bearer of Lidl-Trek he was named the best cyclist of 2025 by the Danish Cycling Federation after a season in which he achieved 14 victories, among which the Ghent-Wevelgem and five stages between the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España stand out (plus the points classifications of both GTs), however there are those who dispute that these results are not superior to those obtained by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), capable of taking home the final success at the Vuelta and second place at the Tour de France. There are therefore those who believe that it was not so much Pedersen’s performances, but rather his popularity, that played a role in awarding him the prize, for which all holders of a license from the Danish Federation vote.

Among those who hold this point of view there is Christian Mobergformer runner and current sports director of Team ColoQuick, as well as commentator for TV2: “In my world there is no doubt. I completely understand that Mads Pedersen’s season was incredible and crazy, but so was Jonas Vingegaard’s. Winning a Grand Tour beats everything else except winning the World Championships, the Giro and the Tour. There is debate as to whether this is a competition based on popularity or results. It’s not up to me to decide. People vote for who they like. And it must be said that Mads Pedersen is highly appreciated“.

The TV2 journalist echoes this Emil Axelgaard: “I think the choice is justifiable, although I think Jonas Vingegaard would have been the right choice. The Tour is so much more important than all the other races that a second place here has enormous weight. At the same time, he made history by becoming the first Dane to win the Vuelta. For me these two results have greater weight than those of Mads“.

Another former runner, Emil Vinjebo (now DS at Uno-X Mobility) agrees with the award to Pedersen: “Mads Pedersen achieved excellent results throughout the year. It’s also thanks to his way of racing, how he won Ghent-Wevelgem with his solo breakaway. Those who vote for cyclist of the year are not just those who watch the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. He also follows the classics and the races in which Mads Pedersen excels and considers them as important as the Grand Tours.”

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