Mads Pedersen isn\u2019t shy about saying what he thinks \u2014 and this time, the Lidl\u2013Trek rider has taken aim at one of cycling\u2019s oldest traditions: the post-Tour de France criteriums.<\/p>\n
Speaking on his Lang Distance<\/a> podcast, the former world champion called the made-for-TV events \u201cawful to watch\u201d and said he\u2019s declined several invitations to take part. \u201cI\u2019ve actually refused a couple of times,\u201d Pedersen said. \u201cYou should never say never, but it\u2019s the last thing I would like to do.\u201d<\/p>\n These post-Tour crits, staged in Europe and more recently in places like Singapore<\/a> and Japan, are billed as celebration races \u2014 a way for fans to see Tour de France stars up close. But the results are agreed upon in advance, with local heroes or marquee names getting the win.<\/p>\n Tadej Poga\u010dar takes absolutely unbelievable win at post-Tour crit<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n You\u2019ll sometimes see a tiny GC rider miraculously outkick the fastest sprinters in the pro peloton. At the most recent one in Japan<\/a>, Jonas Vingegaard, clad in leg warmers and long sleeves, lazily attacked from a lethargic bunch to take the \u201cwin.\u201d (He barely averaged 40 km\/h, although his big day did get a very serious race report from Cyclingnews.com<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Pedersen didn\u2019t hold back about that part, either. He said it\u2019s obvious when riders aren\u2019t really racing, describing how the spectacle takes priority over sport. \u201cIt\u2019s a done deal,\u201d he said on the show. \u201cNone of the pros are even trying to make it look like a race. It is more important that they\u2019re wearing some silly costume or doing publicity stunts. That\u2019s what they\u2019re paid to do.\u201d<\/p>\n For Pedersen, who races to win, not perform, the whole setup feels hollow. \u201cI understand why fans love it,\u201d he added. \u201cBut for me, it\u2019s not really cycling.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to say that in countries with a deep history of cycling and phoney post-Tour crits \u2014 Belgium and the Netherlands, for example \u2014 everyone is in on the gag. It\u2019s fun to see their heroes at the exhibition races \u2014 wearing their leader\u2019s jerseys, even. Spectators can have a beer and frites and enjoy the show. The big question, though, is races in, say, Singapore or Japan. Although cycling is definitely popular there, the post-Tour crits are a new thing. Do the locals know they are getting a fake race? Do they care? (Does it matter?)<\/p>\n Vingegaard did say he was happy to bring his family and they would have a little vacation after, so that tracks. I wonder what Pedersen thinks when he sees his fellow countryman give this solid post-race interview with detailed analysis of how the day went? Oh, to be in the \u201cDanish pro bros\u201d WhatsApp group\u2026<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf99 Hear from Jonas Vingegaard after winning the Tour de France J:COM Saitama Criterium. #SaitamaCriterium<\/a> | @saitamacrite<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iav7vOfklI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tour de France\u2122 (@LeTour) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n