After three second places in the stages of the Vuelta España-2022, Mads Pedersen won without giving his rivals a chance on stage 13 with a finish in a non-category climb (the final kilometer with an average gradient of 5%). 13 was a lucky number for the 26-year-old Danish Trek-Segafredo cyclist – this year he has already won his first career stage of the Tour de France, also 13th, and now he has added the first career stage of the Vuelta of Spain.
Mads Pedersen has set two goals for the Vuelta a Espana-2022 – to win a stage and a green jersey. He has already achieved the first goal and is much closer to the second.
The breakaway failed to leave on stage 13, despite his best efforts, the peloton did not manage to neutralize the breakaway before the intermediate sprint, but caught up with the three runners 9.5 km before the finish.
Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) was the first to attack in the final non-categorical climb, but Mads Pedersen quickly got on his wheel and then powerfully overtook the German sprinter. By a wide margin, Mads Pedersen beat his nearest rival, Brien Kocar (Cofidis), and Pascal Ackermann finished 3rd.
There were no changes in the general classification, Remco Evenepool (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) kept the red leader’s jersey and the white best young rider’s jersey. Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck) retained the pea-shaped best mountain rider jersey.
Mads Pedersen strengthened his position in the points classification, where he is 151 points ahead of nearest rival Mark Soler (UAE Team Emirates).