“I was a little bit sick” – Mattias Skjelmose overcomes pre-race illness scare to defend Amstel Gold Race title

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.”

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.

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.

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.