"I see myself standing there with Tadej and Mathieu" - Mattias Skjelmose motivated and 'in the shape of my life'

Mattias Skjelmose missed the chance at Amstel Gold Race and froze out of Flèche Wallonne, but hasn't let that take away any motivation away from Liège-Bastogne-Liège as he says he is on the form of his life and wants to fight for the win despite the strong competitors.

“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," Skjelmose told Wielerflits. A climber, Skjelmose can benefit from a race that has it's pace high from early on and over many climbs, which can drain the explosivity out of the classics specialists.

The Dane thrived in the Ardennes last year and has already proven to be a rider very well suited to this type of terrain, and leads Lidl-Trek's ambitions at the fourth monument of the season. Skjelmose is motivated despite the rough week he's had: "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."

Can that be enough for him to actually win La Doyenne? "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. But we will see in what order that is on Sunday," he anticipates.