Seeing Skjelmose unable to climb off his bike and shaking uncontrollably explains why there were only 44 finishers today. 🥶 One of the hardest editions in the history of Fleche Wallonne. #FlecheWallonne 📽️ @willoo31
"I didn't realize I had hypothermia... I lost control of my body" - Mattias Skjelmose reflects on dramatic La Fleche Wallonne abandon
CyclingThursday, 18 April 2024 at 18:00
Starting as pre-race favourite, Mattias Skjelmose was sadly forced to abandon La Fleche Wallonne 2024 in dramatic circumstances with video quickly going viral of the Dane shivering and shaking uncontrollably as he was literally carried off the race.
As it turned out, Skjelmose had symptoms of hypothermia. Thankfully, Skjelmose was quickly given treatment and warmed up in the team bus, meaning the 23-year-old will start next Sunday at Liege-Bastogne-Liege full of ambition and ready to compete for the victory. “UAE Emirates started early, as soon as the hail storm started. I tried to follow them directly. That meant I couldn't put on my rain jacket, but luckily Toms Skujiņš was already on his way to me. However, I had to follow and actually I felt very good at that time," he recalls to Wielerflits. "On top of the first passage of the Mur de Huy I was able to put on my rain jacket. Only I was so cold then that I never warmed up again. I didn't realize I had hypothermia, even though I was shivering. That had happened to me before and I was able to recover from it."
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"Once I decided to get off on the second passage of the Mur, I lost control of my body. That was one of the most uncomfortable moments of my life," he continues. "Fortunately we have a good team doctor. He gave me many hot drinks and other things – like a heat to maintain my health. That kept me out of trouble. On Thursday we explored the last 95 kilometres of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Even though I only rode half a race on Wednesday, my body felt like I had ridden a monument. I had muscle pain, but eventually, I felt a lot better three hours later. I had never had these hypothermia symptoms before. I never had a problem with the cold either. In fact, I actually wished for that."
Looking towards Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Skjelmose remains hopeful. “I am happy that Tadej Pogačar is returning. He likes a hard race and that means that the pace becomes high early in the race. For me that is the best thing there is, because it makes me feel very good. He also has the team to race hard, that will be the biggest difference with the Amstel Gold Race and the Fleche Wallonne," he previews. "I wouldn't be surprised if some boys turned out to be ill after Wednesday's Flèche Wallonne. Also pay attention to Stephen Williams, who was also very strong in the races before his victory. The favourites for Sunday have not hidden so far.”
“I have indeed not been able to show myself yet, unfortunately. But I do know how I felt on the bike. I really felt good in the Amstel and that was also the case during the first ascent of the Mur de Huy in the Flèche Wallonne, just before I got freezing cold," Skjelmose concludes. "What I take away from those two classics is that – and I say this with my hand on my heart – I am in the shape of my life. I am really convinced that I will fight for the podium on Sunday in Liège. My 1-2-3? I see myself standing there with Tadej and Mathieu van der Poel. But we will see in what order that is on Sunday.”
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