Pedersen, riding for the Lidl-Trek team, produced a dramatic acceleration from the peloton in the dying stages of the 205.6 kilometres race to take the win.

A three-man breakaway of American rider Brandon McNulty of UAE Team Emirates, Germany’s Nils Politt of Bora-Hansgrohe and Belgium’s Yves Lampaert of Soudal Quick-Step looked like they were on course to fight out the win, before Pedersen’s intervention.

Riders from the peloton took the remaining podium spots, with Danny van Poppel of the Netherlands, riding for Bora-Hansgrohe and Italian Elia Viviani, of Ineos Grenadiers, in second and third respectively on the same time.

Pedersen triumphed in a time of 4hours 36min 35sec, with the first 46 riders all awarded the same time as the winner.

This included the three riders in the breakaway, with Lampaert crossing the line in sixth, Politt in eighth and McNulty in 12^th.

"The three guys still had a gap with 1km to go," Pedersen said after the race.

"I just tried to jump across as I was not sure we would catch them in the sprint.

"I was just going all-out and didn’t know what was happening from behind.

"Danny [Van Poppel] came pretty fast in the end, but luckily it was enough to take the victory."

Pedersen has enjoyed an impressive year so far, winning stages in both Grand Tours to have taken place in 2023 - the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

The race also provides opportunities for cyclists of all ages and abilities to participate, with mass-participation events over various distances and for different age groups.