"I don't know how it will work. We have the same goals" - Mattias Skjelmose on mixed feelings about Juan Ayuso's signing by Lidl-Trek
Cycling
Juan Ayuso was signed by Lidl-Trek but not everyone in the team was thrilled with it, in fact the opposite. Current leader Mattias Skjelmose is not a big fan of the move taking into consideration the team promised to build a block around him, and he does not see how the Spaniard fits in the current plans, sharing some quite controversial words.
"Lidl-Trek told me they believe in me. I don't know how it relates to Ayuso coming in. They've been telling me for a couple of years that they want to build a team around me. But I don't think they brought him in as a domestique," Skjelmose said in an interview with TV2, underlining the uncertainty he feels about the presence of his new teammate.
The Dane is one of the few riders who is often honest about his feelings regarding his own team and the signing of Ayuso, another strong stage-racer and Grand Tour leader, may come in the way of his own Grand Tour ambitions. Skjelmose sees himself as a leader in the team and doesn't believe Ayuso will have intentions of supporting him in his future Grand Tour plans.
"I don't know how it will work. We have the same goals. If he has some difficulty helping Tadej, then I don't know if he will want to help me in any way if it comes to that. But it could also be that he just didn't have a good time at UAE. I don't really know him, so of course I don't know what happened in that team."
Last year he finished amongst the best at the Vuelta a España, also winning the youth classification, but this year his aim of being at the Giro d'Italia was already put aside and he was instead chosen to the Tour de France where he then failed to perform. He was promised full focus on a GC run at the 2026 Giro but is now unsure if this will be fulfilled.
He expressed his surprise at the way the announcement of the signing was handled: "Those announcements were a bit of a strange situation. I found out pretty early on, without the team telling me. I think that was a little weird. But yes, it will be exciting. A new challenge."
It's not the first time the Dane is vocal about his issues to the media, having earlier this year on two occasions, once on his time-trial equipment and a second time on the calendar choices the team had for him.
"When the gap is so big, and my numbers are so good, then it's probably not just the legs that are the problem. Maybe some engineers need to get to work".
Before the Tour: "It was a bit of a strange conversation because I really wanted to ride the Giro, but the team insisted that I ride the Tour. After my Vuelta, I saw the Giro as the most natural step in terms of developing myself as an overall rider. I personally don't think I'm quite ready for the Tour yet or to perform in a general classification at the Tour."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 18visitors 3
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
Loading
5 Comments