Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race: World champion Mads Pedersen gunning for victory in Geelong — if it’s not too hot.
Gun Dane Mads Pedersen will bring his World Champion cycling chops to Geelong for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, but the wet weather specialist is hoping the oppressive summer heat stays away.
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He shocked the world in Yorkshire and now Danish dynamo Mads Pedersen has his sights set on the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
Pedersen, 23, was crowned world champion in September after outlasting a rain-soaked field in a brutal 260.7km road race around Harrogate.
Now, Trek-Segafredo’s classics specialist is set to take the famous rainbow bands to Geelong and the surf coast for the sixth edition of Australia’s premier one-day race on February 2.
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“The honour is super big, even if you’re 23 or 37,” Pedersen says of his new world champion status.
“Now I have to improve and be on the top level all the time instead of once in a while. There will be a lot of pressure, but it also gives me some confidence.
“I’m the guy who wants to honour the jersey the most and give it respect and be in the top of the races.”
One of those races will be Cadel Evans’ demanding WorldTour showdown, even if the young Dane is worried about the likely weather conditions that will greet him in the new year.
“To be honest I don’t like the heat that much,” Pedersen said.
“I’m more for the rainy days and colder weather. My body is built for that. The rain I just don’t mind – if it’s a rainy day you can’t change that – it’s the same for everyone in the peloton. Just go – put another rain jacket on and keep focused.”
Pedersen, who has a DNF and a 66th to show from his only two appearances at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, also said coping with Mother Nature was a key to winning.
With Pedersen not aiming to peak until Europe’s spring classics in March and April, he knows much pain awaits.
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“You have to be good in the heat, and then I think it’s also about if you have the mentality to really suffer in January,” he said.
“It’s a really nice race and I would like to try to win it, but I have to be better in the heat. I could be lucky; if it’s below 40C then maybe I can go with the first peloton.
“For me it really depends on the weather. It’s a race where a lot of different types of riders can win.
“If it’s too warm I’m going to suffer a lot.”
Regardless, the likeable Dane who is determined not to let becoming world champion change who he is, will aim to entertain.
“I got married, I got a dog, I got winter tyres on my car. To be honest, I don’t want it to change (anything),” Pedersen said.
“At one point you have to stop with selfies before the race because I also have to race. But I try to do my best to make everyone happy.”