Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) has returned to light indoor training just four days after undergoing surgery for fractures sustained in a high-speed crash at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
The 2019 world road race champion posted a story on Instagram on February 9 showing himself pedalling on home rollers with an improvised support structure beside him. Two plastic storage boxes, stacked and topped with towels, provided a cushioned platform for his injured arm, allowing him to maintain an upright position without loading the fractured left wrist or right collarbone.
Pedersen was riding in bare feet rather than cycling shoes, a setup more typical for circulation and gentle leg movement than for structured training efforts. He captioned the post: "Enjoy the small step forwards."
The crash occurred during the final run-in of Stage 1 on February 4, when a split in the peloton brought down several riders. Teammate Bauke Mollema described the race as "one of those days I won't miss when I'm done," on a post on Instagram, noting how fresh and nervous the peloton had been.
Hospital assessments confirmed the dual fracture, and Pedersen underwent surgery to stabilise both injuries the following day. "Not the best start of the year, but I'll bounce back," he said on social media after the operation.
Lidl-Trek said in a statement that its "first priority is to ensure Mads gets the best care possible" and that the immediate focus would be on "a successful recovery to minimise the disruption to his season goals."
The injuries have already changed Pedersen's early-season calendar. He is not expected to start the Tour de la Provence, which begins on February 14, or Paris-Nice in early March.
Lidl-Trek now face uncertainty over whether their Classics leader will be fit for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. While collarbone fractures can sometimes be raced on within weeks, the wrist presents a more complex challenge for cobbled racing, where grip strength, vibration absorption and steering torque are constant demands.
Former Danish national coach Anders Lund said Pedersen was "extremely bitter" about the timing, in an analysis for Eurosport.dk, but had already shifted into "single-minded" focus on his revised recovery plan.
Cover image credit: hardycc
