TakeWorlds4 weeks ago
Mads Pedersen withdrew from the 2026 Vuelta a España sick, then auctioned his Tour de France memorabilia to fund two extra U23 spots for Denmark's Worlds squad. Danish cycling's federation couldn't cover six riders on its own budget.
The auction — a race-worn skinsuit, gloves, socks, a stage 21 number, a signed helmet — raised roughly £2,850. That's a modest sum next to a WorldTour rider's earnings, but it was enough to add Kevin Biehl and Emil Nymand to the roster. National coach Michael Mørkøv put it plainly: «…thanks to the cost-saving measures within the elite sports department—and not least thanks to a major contribution from Mads Pedersen—we've now succeeded.»
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