"I'm looking forward to the Tour de France" - Mattias Skjelmose boosts confidence with Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica victory

After nearly two months out of the peloton, Mattias Skjelmose made a triumphant return to racing on Sunday afternoon, winning the first ever edition of the new climbing challenge, the Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica. 

"I was sick for a long time and missed the Dauphiné and Suisse, luckily I could do this race and now I think the shape is there for the Tour," Skjelmose reflected happily in his post-race interview afterwards, referencing what has been a difficult spell for the Lidl-Trek leading Dane. "I was feeling good all day, and the guys did a great job. I then did my own pace and knew I had a good sprint."

This return to racing and more importantly, return to winning ways couldn't have come at a better time for Skjelmose either. Next month, the Dane is set to lead Lidl-Trek's general classification challenge at the 2025 Tour de France, so a strong demonstration of his climbing ability has given a renewed boost of confidence to the 24-year-old.

"We wanted to see how I was going in this race. We'll see for the TDF, but after this race, I'm feeling more confident," concludes Skjelmose honestly. "It's difficult to say what my goals will be, but I'm looking forward to the Tour de France."