End to the speculation: Mattias Skjelmose commits future to Lidl-Trek - “I couldn’t see myself riding anywhere else”

Mattias Skjelmose has committed his long-term future to Lidl-Trek, signing a new contract extension that will keep the Danish rider with the team through to the end of the 2028 season and firmly end any speculation around his next move.

The decision locks in one of Lidl-Trek’s most important leaders at a time when the team is shaping its ambitions for the next Grand Tour cycle. Skjelmose has grown from a promising neo-pro into a rider capable of winning WorldTour stage races, competing across three weeks and delivering in the sport’s biggest one-day events.

“I couldn’t see myself riding anywhere else,” Skjelmose said in the press release. “This team is my family, I find myself at home.”

Skjelmose joined the team in 2021 for his first professional contract, a move that has defined his career trajectory. Early general classification performances quickly marked him out as a rider for the future, but it was his overall victory at the 2022 Tour de Luxembourg that signalled his arrival at WorldTour level.

The following seasons confirmed that progression. In 2023, Skjelmose demonstrated rare versatility, collecting seven wins across contrasting terrain and securing overall victory at the Tour de Suisse alongside the Danish national road title. His Grand Tour credentials followed soon after, with a breakout Vuelta a Espana in 2024 that brought the white jersey and a top-five finish overall.

Rather than narrowing his focus, Skjelmose expanded it again in 2025. The Ardennes Classics became a central target, and his Amstel Gold Race victory stood out as one of the season’s defining moments. Outsprinting Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel from a three-up move, he delivered a statement win that reinforced his status as a genuine all-round leader. Even injury disruption later in the year did little to derail that momentum, with a fourth-place finish at the World Championships in Rwanda closing his season on a high.

For Skjelmose, the contract extension is as much about continuity as results. He sees his own development as closely tied to that of the team itself.“When I came into the team, Vincenzo Nibali was the big star here,” he said. “Now with Lidl, Trek and other huge sponsors the project has become so much bigger. Growing with the team is something really special.”

That sense of shared progress has been central to his decision-making.“The ambition has always been there, but it took a bit of time to reach where we wanted to be,” Skjelmose said. “It’s super nice that I can continue this journey with the team.”

He also pointed to the internal culture as a decisive factor, describing an environment built around collective responsibility rather than individual hierarchy.“We haven’t always had the biggest budget, but we always got the most out of every rider,” he said. “That’s mainly because we always find the ability to work for each other and help each other over-perform.”

The atmosphere inside the squad remains a constant motivator.“I’ve never spoken with someone who wouldn’t want to join this team,” Skjelmose added. “That’s all down to our team spirit. We’re having fun all the time, no matter who we are with at the races.”

From Lidl-Trek’s perspective, the extension secures a rider viewed as central to both present and future ambitions.“Mattias has grown into one of the pillars of our team,” said general manager Luca Guercilena. “He has shown he can perform at the highest level, whether in one-day races or across three weeks.”

Guercilena also highlighted the balance Skjelmose brings within the group.“He leads when required, but he is also willing to work for his team-mates,” he said. “That versatility is incredibly important for us.”

Looking ahead, Skjelmose is expected to continue balancing Ardennes Classics leadership with major objectives at the Vuelta a Espana as he enters the prime years of his career. With this deal in place, Lidl-Trek have removed uncertainty and made a clear statement about who they intend to build around through the remainder of the decade.