"I'm impressed that I have made such a long stint": Toms Skujins to miss spring classics for the first time in 10+ years

Lidl-Trek have entered the 2026 season with ambition to confirm their position as a top-3 team in the UCI world ranking. But a string of heavy crashes, injuries and illness that have haunted its leaders derailed the German-licensed machine that now sits all the way back in 15th place - surrounded by ProTeams Cofidis and Tudor Pro Cycling - far off where the team belongs.

While Toms Skujins may not have the reputation of Juan Ayuso or Mads Pedersen, the Latvian is still a key link in Lidl's Classics team and an important contributor to team's points counter with quadruple-digit records in each of the past three seasons.

But in 2026, he won't be able to help his leader Pedersen in any of the spring one-day races as an illness from Paris-Nice completely halted the 34-year-old's preparation, making a participation in Flemish Classics impossible, Skujins informs on his Instagram:

"For the first time in 10+ years I won't be doing any spring classics. Definitely gutted, but also quite impressed that I have made such a long stint in our sport where crashes and sickness are always part of the game. Got proper sick at Paris-Nice and haven't ridden much since coming back home early. Will definitely try to make the most of it, recover and get the body ready for the rest of the year. Still many goals out there this season."

Whilst Skujins will be forced to watch from the sidelines as Pedersen & co. take on Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, the German team still has many cards to play with sprinter Jonathan Milan, all-rounders Soren Kragh Andersen and Mathias Vacek, young engine Jakob Soderqvist, or young talent Albert Withen Philipsen.

And the top-5 finisher of both European and World Championships from 2025 is quite thrilled to follow along as his teammates bode with pressure without the experienced road captain:

"On the bright side I will get to watch more bike racing on TV than previous years and cheer on the Lidl-Trek squad," he concludes.