23-year-old Mads Pedersen made the start in the Tour Down Under, which runs from the 21. 26. January.

world champion Mads Pedersen (Trek) begin the next cycling season in Australia.

the Organizer of the etapeløbet Tour Down Under informs on its website that the 23-year-old dane made the start.

- What an honor it is for us to have the reigning world champion with, so regnbuetrøjen can run with in south Australia.

- Mads is a verdensklasserytter, and we can't wait to see what he can do in the next year's first World Tour race, says race director Mike Turtur on the website.

the Tour Down Under will run from the 21. 26. January.

Of the race website it appears also, that the Mads Pedersen a few days prior will participate in the opvisningsløbet Schwalbe Classic in Adelaide.

At the end of september won the Mads Pedersen sensational WORLD cup, which was held in Yorkshire, England. It was the first time that a male Danish rider won the WORLD title on the road in the professional field.

/ritzau/