The second week of the Vuelta a España concluded with Mads Pedersen crossing the finish line first in the fifteenth stage in Monforte de Lemos. The Danish rider, who wears the green points classification jersey, had been close to victory several times, but only today managed to cross the finish line ahead of the others.

"Winning today was not a given. The riders in the breakaway group were really strong and had gained a lot of time. My team had to work extremely hard to bring me to victory."

This is Pedersen's sixtieth career victory and his fourth at the Vuelta, after the three he won in 2022. In total, the Danish rider has achieved 11 victories in the three Grand Tours. "It's even more beautiful to win when everyone is watching and everyone knows us. We managed to achieve an absolutely incredible victory."

Today's victory was not easy or guaranteed, and Pedersen managed to beat Aular from Movistar and Frigo from Israel-Premier Tech. "In the final meters, I didn't have many alternatives and I first followed, maintaining a fairly high speed so that no one would decide to attack early. Then in the leading group, the pace increased 700, 800 meters from the finish, and it was perfect for me because I slowly approached and after the final curve, 220 meters from the finish, I was in the perfect position to sprint, and that's when my moment came."

This is the Danish rider's first victory at this year's Vuelta, but there will be a couple more opportunities for sprinters like him in the final week. "I really wanted to win, and today we did it, so it's fantastic. We wanted this victory at all costs because we've been chasing it since the beginning of the Vuelta, we've been close to victory several times, and today we achieved it."