"Juan Ayuso is far more of a serious Tour de France contender than Mattias Skjelmose will ever be” – Michael Rasmussen questions compatriot's criticisms of Lidl-Trek

Former Danish star Michael Rasmussen has poured cold water on Mattias Skjelmose’s Tour de France ambitions, suggesting his fellow Dane will never reach the podium in Paris, particularly following Lidl-Trek’s high-profile capture of Juan Ayuso.

Speaking on Viaplay, the ex-pro argued that Ayuso’s arrival tilts the team’s long-term GC strategy away from Skjelmose, despite the 25-year-old having been told repeatedly by management that the squad would be built around him.

“There’s no doubt that Ayuso has more star quality than Mattias Skjelmose. He already has a stronger palmarès, and he’s two years younger,” Rasmussen said. “Ayuso is far more likely to be a serious contender for the Tour de France podium than Skjelmose will ever be.”

The comments come days after Skjelmose admitted to TV2 that he was unsure where the new signing left his own position inside Lidl-Trek. While maintaining that the team had always told him he was a central project, he acknowledged Ayuso’s pedigree made the leadership picture far from straightforward.

“Lidl-Trek told me they believe in me. I don't know how it relates to Ayuso coming in,” Skjelmose said. “They've been telling me for a couple of years that they want to build a team around me. But I don't think they brought him in as a domestique.”

He added that he was sceptical whether Ayuso, after leaving UAE Team Emirates - XRG in search of greater opportunities, would be inclined to ride in support of him. “We have the same goals. If he has some difficulty helping Tadej, then I don't know if he will want to help me in any way if it comes to that,” Skjelmose said. “But it could also be that he just didn't have a good time at UAE. I don't really know him, so of course I don't know what happened in that team.”

For Rasmussen, however, the equation is simple: Skjelmose’s future lies away from the Tour. The former Danish champion pointed towards the Giro d’Italia as a more realistic target, while underlining that Ayuso’s ambition will dominate Lidl-Trek’s grand tour plans.

“In my firm belief, Mattias Skjelmose will never get close to a Tour de France podium. But if the startlist is favourable, he can certainly dream of finishing on the podium at the Giro d’Italia,” Rasmussen said.

Ayuso is widely expected to chase a Tour–Vuelta double in 2026, potentially opening the door for Skjelmose to lead elsewhere. In the meantime, his best chances to shine could come in the Ardennes, where he has shown consistent progress, while Ayuso has yet to make his mark.

Rasmussen’s blunt assessment may sting for Skjelmose, but with Lidl’s financial muscle raising expectations across the calendar, the Dane will need to prove quickly that he deserves equal billing alongside one of Spain’s brightest stars.