Lidl-Trek has decided that versatile sprinter Mads Pedersen will compete in the 2024 Tour de France despite his crash on stage 5.

Pedersen suffered a serious blow to his left shoulder and back after crashing into the wall late in the stage in which Mark Cavendish (Astana Cazacstan) recorded his 35th win, but initial X-rays showed no fractures.

After the fall, Pedersen was fortunate to escape further potential injury thanks to Cofidis lead-out man Axel Zingle, who successfully bunny-hopped across Pedersen as he lay on the ground near the finish in Saint Vourbas.

The team said they would review the situation overnight, and on Thursday morning he announced that he would continue racing.

"We can confirm that Mads Pedersen will start stage 6 today," a message from the Lidl-Trek press team announced at 10:26 CEST, three hours before the scheduled start time in Macon.

Pedersen also posted on his social media early this morning that "Icebus is my best friend these days," as he continues to recover to be able to start.

Pedersen, a former world champion, finished seventh and fourth in the 2024 Tour de France stages to Rimini and Turin. He is currently second in the battle for the green jersey behind Biniam Guillemay (Intermarché Wanty) and won the intermediate sprint early in the mountainous stage 4.

Pedersen, a two-time stage winner in 2023 and 2022, and considered a leading sprinter in the Tour, is one of the favorites to win the flat stage to Dijon today.

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