Mattias Skjelmose might depart Lidl-Trek only months after renewing, amidst Vuelta a España difficulties
CyclingMonday, 31 August 2026 at 17:18
Mattias Skjelmose has extended his current contract with Lidl-Trek earlier this year, but this might come to an end soon. During the Vuelta a España's rest day, a rumour has emerged that the Danish rider might be looking to leave the team in search of leadership.
Skjelmose turned professional in 2021 with Lidl-Trek and has been one of the riders that has evolved the most within the team over the past few years. Now at 25 years of age, he is a well fit in leader, and compatriot to several of the team's central figures. His presence has been met with a strong delivery of results, but also an internal battle for leadership.
Since the entry of Lidl back in 2023 as a title sponsor for the team, its budget has increased, and several strong climbers have entered the team's ranks. This winter, the signing of Juan Ayuso and Derek Gee have seen the German team grow in quality, but has made it more difficult to find sole leadership for any of them respectively.
Trouble at Lidl-Trek?
CyclingUpToDate can confirm that Skjelmose was, in 2025, promised sole leadership at the 2026 Giro d'Italia after he was stripped of major support that year due to the presence of Jonathan Milan and other notable figures. Equally, we can confirm that Skjelmose learnt of his 2026 program through the media, not through the team's management.
With his contract being set until 2026, it was then speculated that a departure could take place at the end of the season, as Skjelmose was set to share leadership duties at the Ardennes with Juan Ayuso, and then be a domestique for the Spaniard at the Tour de France.
Only days after, Lidl-Trek confirmed Skjelmose's contract extension all the way into 2028, bringing to an end the speculation. At the Vuelta a España's first red day, Het Laatste Nieuws has reported that Skjelmose is not satisfied with his current position in the team and wants to depart.
Mattias Skjelmose was sixth at the Tour de France
Skjelmose's priorities appear secondary
The Dane, former Amstel Gold Race winner in 2025 ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, has swiftly moved through his racing schedule in this year. Due to Ayuso's injuries, he got the leadership position in the Ardennes where he was second at Amstel and fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
His collaboration with the Spaniard didn't prove harmful for his ambitions, as both riders co-led both the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Tour de France, having similar form and not sacrificing one for the other. Skjelmose was sixth in both races.
At the current Vuelta a España however, the exclusion of Carlos Verona from the lineup has lit up a debate on whether the team took its GC ambitions seriously. Skjelmose is - once again - sixth after nine stages of the race, but has been notably isolated in the mountainous stages.
Team DS Kim Andersen was even openly disappointed at the lack of support for Skjelmose at the end of stage 4 during the ongoing Vuelta: "It is not good enough. I don't find it disappointing that Mads Pedersen isn't there after a 25-kilometer climb, but we have other riders who should do better in the mountains".
With rumours of Felix Gall potentially coming into the team, not even Giulio Ciccone's removal from GC goals at the Grand Tours could grand Skjelmose space in the three-week races to be a sole leader in the team.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- You've lost me there? You would need to explain your thinking on that comment.Cyclingsbestfan31-08-2026
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- Yeah but you can’t suppose there was NOBODY who saw anything. Someone didn’t do what any leading rider should. Not saying there needs to be blame but the lack of focus was more likely elsewhere.Mistermaumau31-08-2026
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- 2021 was electric for MVDP v Pidcock off-road duels in the World Cup rounds. MVDP hasn’t been the same since his crash at the Tokyo Olympic Games, but one can still reminisce their battles.anonymouscyclist31-08-2026
- "Reduced focusing" - what a load of nonsense. There is a sad, envious tinge of negativity from the journalist, Stef Clement. As my Dad used to say, "If you ask 100 people what colour a white panel is there's always one bugger who'll say it is black." He sounds desperate to have a different take on things to make a name for himself. Nasty tinged nonsense.charles31-08-2026
- More likely that they just didn't ride into it
Rafionain-Glas31-08-2026
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