“Mattias Skjelmose can seem a bit tense” – Brian Holm urges compatriot to embrace Lidl-Trek arrival of Juan Ayuso
Cycling
Lidl-Trek’s decision to hand Juan Ayuso leadership of the Tour de France has prompted immediate debate, but one prominent Danish voice believes the move could ultimately work in Mattias Skjelmose’s favour rather than against him.
Speaking on Eurosport, Brian Holm argued that the arrival of Ayuso could ease pressure on Skjelmose, who will line up at the Tour as a key support rider rather than the team’s outright leader. With Lidl-Trek now boasting multiple Grand Tour level contenders, the internal hierarchy is beginning to take shape, and Holm sees benefits in that clarity.
“I’m sure it’s an advantage. Mattias Skjelmose can seem a bit tense when he races. He is almost too focused,” Holm said on Eurosport. “So if someone comes in who can take some of that stress away from him, I think that could help Mattias a lot.”
Rather than framing Ayuso’s appointment as a demotion for Skjelmose, Holm presented it as a chance for the Dane to ride with greater freedom, responsibility clearly defined, and fewer expectations resting solely on his shoulders at cycling’s biggest race.
Surprise over one-day race plans
While the Tour leadership call appears settled, uncertainty briefly emerged around Lidl-Trek’s plans for the Ardennes Classics. Skjelmose had been widely viewed as the team’s spearhead for those one-day races, but that assumption was challenged during a press conference on Friday.
Journalists informed Skjelmose that Ayuso had also been selected for the major Ardennes races, information that visibly caught him off guard. “That’s new information to me. I haven’t been told that,” Skjelmose said when asked about the situation.
He went on to stress that his understanding had been clear until that moment. “I’ve been told that I’m supposed to be the sole leader,” he added, before striking a conciliatory tone. “But it will be fine, we’ll let the legs do the talking.”
The exchange underlined how Lidl-Trek’s growing depth can create grey areas, even if the broader strategic picture is coming into focus. With multiple leaders across different terrains and race formats, communication and role definition are becoming increasingly important within the team.
For Lidl-Trek, the challenge now is managing expectation both internally and externally. With Ayuso installed as Tour captain and Skjelmose earmarked for leadership elsewhere, the team is attempting to balance star power with stability.
Holm’s assessment suggests that, for Skjelmose at least, embracing that balance could be key. Less pressure in July may translate into sharper performances when leadership is fully his, and in a team suddenly rich in options, that could prove a strategic win rather than a compromise.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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