After using his finest season so far, high Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose has prolonged his stick with Lidl-Trek by way of to 2026.
Skjelmose was one of many highest-performing riders in 2023, taking his first WorldTour win on stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse and backing it up along with his first general victory on the week-long WorldTour stage race in Switzerland.
The 23-year-old additionally impressed within the Ardennes the place he completed within the high 10 of all three Classics and was second at La Flèche Wallonne behind solely Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates). He then went on to change into the Danish nationwide champion and debuted on the Tour de France.
It’s been a fast rise to management for the younger Dane, however 2023 confirmed he was one of many best possible GC prospects within the peloton, with the one-day capabilities to again it up, making it important for Lidl-Trek to retain his abilities.
“Lidl-Trek all the time believed in me, since day one. It was fairly a straightforward selection, once they got here with a suggestion, displaying me much more belief, it was arduous to say no,” stated Skjelmose in a group assertion.
“I developed lots as a Lidl-Trek rider and it’s all the time a threat to alter groups and I didn’t see any motive to try this once I consider I can enhance extra right here.
“The group proposed plan for me which I used to be very proud of. It suits completely with my imaginative and prescient and what I consider will work finest for me.”
The Dane has already made a flying begin to 2024 with two top-five finishes on the Faun Ardèche and Faun Drome Traditional. He’ll subsequent be in motion at Paris-Good which begins this Sunday, March 3 the place he shall be one of many GC riders difficult Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Skjelmose is about to skip the Tour de France in 2024 with a long-term aim to mount a full assault on the GC there in 2025. As an alternative, he’ll co-lead the American group on the Ardennes earlier than using the Dauphiné and the Vuelta a España in the summertime, with an Olympic berth additionally in thoughts ought to he be chosen.
The Spanish Grand Tour shall be an enormous aim for the Dane, the place he hopes to develop additional as an general GC risk forward of returning to the Tour de France for a second time subsequent 12 months.
“The large factor about not doing the tour this 12 months is to do the Vuelta after which hopefully having a profitable GC in a Grand Tour earlier than going all in for the Tour in 2025,” Skjelmose instructed Cyclingnews at Lidl-Trek’s December coaching camp.
“It is troublesome to say now however no less than the highest 10,” stated the Dane of his expectations for the Vuelta which begins in Lisbon on August 17.
“If I am a podium contender till the previous few days after which explode, then I shall be unhappy with high 10. But when I am, , all the time ninth, eighth, seventh, all the time there, then I shall be blissful to simply be capable to compete on the high of a Grand Tour GC.”
Within the three years of his new contract, nevertheless, he’s dreaming even greater.
“I might like to have stood on a Grand Tour podium by the following time we have now this dialog a couple of contract extension, hopefully with the identical group,” he stated.
“That’s the dream state of affairs, however I’ve a variety of different targets, and so long as I preserve creating, I’m additionally actually blissful.
“The whole lot strikes so quick on this sport, and in case you stand nonetheless, you’re in bother. For me, proper now, I couldn’t think about being in a greater place.”
