Asked by Cycling News if he came to the Sarthe circuit to level up for Paris-Roubaix, Mads Pedersen replied emphatically: "No. I've already been in good shape! I think I'm already in pretty good shape."

Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), who was 6th in Milan-San Remo, 7th in Ghent-Wevelgem, and 8th in Ronde van Vlaanderen, was not able to make Paris-Roubaix due to the French presidential elections on April 10 and 24, which are usually He chose to participate in one more French stage race to keep up the pace and stay in shape, as Paris-Roubaix will be held a week later on April 17 than usual due to the French presidential elections, which will be held on April 10 and 24.

He outpaced Benoit Cosnefrois (AG2R-Citroen team) and Axel Gingle (Cofidis) in the slightly uphill finale to take his third win of the season in Mamers. He won the first stage of Etoile de Besseges and the third stage of Paris-Nice.

"It's always nice to win," Pedersen responded. "It's been a tough, long day. I wasn't surprised that I won today's stage, but I was surprised how hard the course was. The weather wasn't great, and the roads were up and down and undulating."

"I'm very happy," Pedersen responded.

"I don't think I made the race difficult, I think I made it a lot harder when the other guys went into the long climbs on the big laps. I had to follow them. I was a little bit in the back but I managed to stay with them. I managed to get into the pack. I didn't have much time all day. With 15 kilometers to go, I was only 30 to 50 seconds behind the peloton.

Pedersen was the center of attention despite the fact that Filippo Ganna, Luke Plapp (Ineos Grenadiers), and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) were part of a 10-man breakaway group. He did not count on his own speed, but instead went clear with 3km to go.

"All the other racers didn't want to go to the finish line with me. Sometimes it's easier to try by yourself than to wait for the others."

With Paris-Roubaix taking place nine days after the Circuit de la Sarthe, Pedersen will be able to focus on the four-day stage race.

"Of course I'll defend the yellow jersey," Pedersen warned. It was the toughest stage."

Sprinters such as Mark Cavendish, Elia Viviani (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl), and Peter Sagan (Total Energies) will make it easier for Pedersen in the remaining three stages.