“I was a little bit sick” – Mattias Skjelmose overcomes pre-race illness scare to defend Amstel Gold Race title
Cycling
Defending champion Mattias Skjelmose will line up at the Amstel Gold Race 2026 with his title on the line after navigating a disrupted build-up, revealing he had been dealing with illness in the lead-in to the race.
The Dane, who claimed a standout victory against Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel in Limburg last year, arrives this time with a very different profile. No longer an outsider, he carries the number one bib and the added scrutiny that comes with it, but insists he is ready to compete despite the setback.
“I feel better. I was a little bit sick, but I feel on top of it now,” Skjelmose said in conversation with Cycling Pro Net. “I’m ready to race and really looking forward to it.”
From breakthrough winner to marked rider
That sense of readiness comes alongside a shift in status. Twelve months ago, Skjelmose’s victory came from a race that developed at a relentless pace, allowing him to emerge from a selective finale against some of the sport’s biggest names.
This time, the dynamic is unlikely to be the same. “You know, it’s super special,” he said of returning as defending champion. “I’ve had quite a few wins, but having number one in this race is really, really special.”
With that status comes expectation, but also a different tactical landscape, one the Dane believes could reshape the entire race.
Expecting a more open and unpredictable race
Rather than a repeat of the high-tempo battle that defined the 2025 edition, Skjelmose anticipates a far less controlled contest this time around, influenced heavily by the composition of the startlist.
“I think it’s going to be difficult to do the same as we did last year with such a high pace all day,” he explained. “I think it will be a much more open race, and there could definitely be some surprises.”
That outlook aligns with a broader uncertainty surrounding this year’s Amstel Gold Race. Without several of the usual dominant figures dictating proceedings, the balance between control and opportunism may tilt towards the latter, creating space for unexpected outcomes.
Skjelmose stunned Pogacar and Evenepoel twelve months ago
Ready to defend despite disrupted build-up
For Skjelmose, the key question was whether his preparation would allow him to compete at the same level as last year’s winning performance. His answer is clear: the illness is behind him, and the focus is now firmly on the race itself.
With his condition improving and the race expected to unfold in a more open fashion, the defending champion finds himself in a position where both opportunity and uncertainty coexist.
Whether that plays in his favour remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Skjelmose will not be giving up his title without a fight.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
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- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
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