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Spring classics favorite Mads Pedersen crashed out of stage 1 in his 2026 season debut at the five-day Volta a Valenciana in Spain.
Details are still emerging, but Lidl-Trek officials confirmed the Danish powerhouse is out of the race and was transported to a local hospital.
“Mads Pedersen unfortunately crashed during Stage 1 of Volta Comunitat Valenciana and was forced to abandon the race,” a team note read.
“He has been taken to hospital for assessment and we will provide news on his condition when the information is available.”
It appeared the big Dane crashed earlier in the stage, and he did not make it to the line to contest the final sprint.
Pedersen came roaring into this season intent on beating back Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar to win what would be his first career monument this spring.
In the bunch sprint, Biniam Girmay won his first pro race since the 2024 Tour de France in his season debut with NSN Cycling after his transfer from Intermarché-Wanty coming into 2026.
The Valenciana tour continues a big block of Spanish racing that runs into March.
Top names such as Remco Evenepoel — who did not win his fourth straight win after going three-for-three in the Mallorca Challenge — Brandon McNulty, and João Almeida.
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