"He can finish in the top five" - Michael Rasmussen impressed by the 'hugely encouraging' performances of Mattias Skjelmose at 2024 Vuelta a Espana

Mattias Skjelmose has been growing into the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, getting stronger and stronger with every mountain test that goes by. As the Grand Tour reaches the second rest day, the Dane currently sits 9th overall, 4:51 down on the Red Jersey wearing Ben O'Connor.

The upward progression of Skjelmose throughout the second week have been incredibly pleasing viewing for former Vuelta a Espana stage winner, Michael Rasmussen. "It's definitely with an upward arrow," the 50-year-old Dane tells Ekstra Bladet. "I was a little worried when I saw the first few mountain stages. He wasn't convincing there, but what he delivered on Friday and especially yesterday is hugely encouraging."

Whilst the Red Jersey may seem a slightly unlikely proposal at this point in the race, Skjelmose is still very much in the fight for the White Jersey, just 18 seconds down on classification leader Florian Lipowitz and 7 seconds behind Carlos Rodriguez.

“With the terrain that awaits, it's like blinking your eyes. He seems to have the upper hand on Rodriguez. And Lipowitz has a job to do with Primoz Roglic (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe). It cost him yesterday (stage 15 ed.) because he can't sit and ride conservatively," Rasmussen analyses. "As far as I'm concerned, it's approved now. If he stays there, it's expected that he'll finish between sixth and tenth. As things are now, it's not unlikely that Skjelmose can finish in the top five."

Whilst there are still climbs to come, it's the final stage time trial in Madrid that Rasmussen believes Skjelmose can benefit from most greatly. "There's a 24-kilometre time trial where he'll easily take a minute off Mikel Landa," the Dane predicts confidently. "There's still the wild card called Ben O'Connor. We don't really know how durable he is. He loses time every day."