“It’s always special to race against Tadej Pogacar... hopefully we’ll crack him at some point" - Mattias Skjelmose confident of challenging world champ in the Ardennes

Mattias Skjelmose gets back to one-day racing this weekend as he starts the Ardennes triple header with a battle on Sunday afternoon at the Amstel Gold Race. After a solid if unspectacular showing at the Itzulia Basque Country last time out, the Lidl-Trek leader is hopeful of being in the mix for victory.

After a breakthrough showing in the Ardennes in 2023, Skjelmose was a notable step lesser twelve months ago. “I’ve been missing that punch I had in 2023, but we’re hoping it’s coming back now,” Skjelmose explains in conversation with Feltet.dk, when asked about the somewhat quieter than expected performance in the Ardennes in 2024. “I lost a bit of weight last year, and I also lacked freshness because of all the crashes. Maybe that’s what cost me.”

There have also been crashes this year for the Dane, although he's quick to point out that there are no serious injuries lingering. “Just some road rash, so I got off pretty lucky," he recalls of the crash that ultimately took him out of podium contention at the Itzulia. "I felt good, but I was just missing that last little bit. That’s also what the Basque Country was supposed to help me find.”

But whilst the Amstel Gold Race holds plenty of potential opportunities for Skjelmose, there is a big, Rainbow Jersey wearing obstacle to overcome if he wants to win. “It’s always special to race against Tadej Pogacar," previews Skjelmose with optimism. "He’s a tough nut to crack, but hopefully we’ll crack him at some point. We might have the only guy who can really threaten him at La Fleche Wallonne.”

The threatening rider Skjelmose is referring to at Fleche Wallonne is Thibau Nys. “Flèche Wallonne is a simple race — it all comes down to the legs. I think Thibau is one of the best in the world on climbs of that length and steepness. But I’ll leave the tactics to Kim Andersen (Lidl-Trek DS),” laughs the Dane in conclusion.