"I hate that he is not here" - Danish teammate laments Jonas Vingegaard's absence from World Championships

Mattias Skjelmose has recently crashed at the Tour de Luxembourg and has had his World Championships at risk. Ultimately however the Lidl-Trek will be taking part in the Zurich race this Sunday where he will be one of the leaders of the Danish team - but he rues the absence of Jonas Vingegaard who could have a lot to add on such a tough course.

"I would have loved to ride on one World Championship team with Jonas, but I hate that he is not here. But I understand his choice, and it is what it is. Let's hope we can race together soon," Skjelmose told In de Leiderstrui. Alongside Mads Pedersen and Magnus Cort Nielsen there will be cards for the Danes to play, although it definitely isn't assured that Skjelmose himself will arrive in the best form.

"I think I came out of the Vuelta well. I've had some time off the bike and enjoyed some relaxed time with family and my girlfriend. I feel good now, although my performance in the Vuelta has yet to be processed," he admits. "That will probably only happen after this season; my focus is still too much on the World Championship. The most important thing is the best possible preparation for Zurich, to find top form". With Vingegaard, they would have had another card to play with Vingegaard who would likely be able to cover big attacks on the climbs; the team will have to opt for other tactics.

"I think it's cool to race with Van der Poel in Luxembourg, but we have to be careful not to make idols of our colleagues in the peloton," Skjelmose when asked about Mathieu van der Poel who will be one of the most dangerous riders in the peloton.