"My body can't take it anymore" - Mattias Skjelmose signs out of World Championships after exhausting Tour-Vuelta double
Cycling
Mattias Skjelmose was announced as Denmark's co-leader for the 2026 World Championships in Montréal alongside Mads Pedersen; however, the Tour-Vuelta combination eventually proved too much for the 25-year-old, who visibly faded towards the end of his second Grand Tour (also due to an illness). Unsurprisingly, Skjelmose announced today he withdraws from the nomination. The Lidl-Trek rider will be replaced by Anthon Charmig.
"It's probably not healthy in relation to the World Championships, but I told Michael (Mørkøv, national coach, ed.) about an hour ago that I have to cancel because my body can't take it anymore," Skjelmose told TV 2 Sport.
For the moment, Skjelmose does not make it clear whether he plans to race again this season, but it wouldn't be surprising if he prioritized recovery and slow build-up for 2027 instead. "I'll go home and get some rest, and I don't think I can give the national team what I should be able to give. There's someone else who's going to take my place," he refers to Charmig.
It's not a massive surprise to Morkov
The Danish national coach, Michael Morkov counted on the Lidl-Trek duo as his main cards for the Montréal race. But at the same time, the former professional does not hide that the possibility of Skjelmose's absence was always on the table, considering his packed schedule. "It's a premise I've always agreed with. Ever since the spring, when I knew he was going to ride the Tour and Vuelta," Morkov tells Eurosport.
Mads Pedersen
Focus on Mads Pedersen
The attention therefore shifts to Mads Pedersen. The hilly course might be slightly less to his liking, but the tenacious Dane is sure to give his best shot. Without any other leader options, Morkov doesn't really have any other choice anyway, then to believe in the 30-year-old who wrapped his Vuelta a Espana participation halfway through to prepare well for Worlds.
"Of course, there is great hope for Mads, who returned home early from the Vuelta and has indicated that he is training towards his best form for the World Championships. He is clearly also a rider we can trust in relation to the World Championships."
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In-shape replacement
As for Skjelmose's vacant spot in nomination, it will be filled out by Uno-X Mobility's Anthon Charmig. The 28-year-old is a more than valid choice, as demonstrated by his podium at the Grand Prix de Québec this Friday. For Charmig, it is his third World Championships call-up, after previous participations in 2022 (70th) and 2025 (DNF). But this time, it could be better on a course he's familiar with.
"I have selected Anthon Charmig, and it is of course incredibly convenient that Anthon shows up so nicely at a time when we have a cancellation from Mattias," Morkov explains the selection.
Denmark men's selection for the 2026 World Championships:
| Rider | Discipline |
| Kasper Asgreen | Road Race & ITT |
| Mikkel Bjerg | Road Race & ITT |
| Mads Pedersen | Road Race |
| Anthon Charmig | Road Race |
| Andreas Kron | Road Race |
| Michael Valgren | Road Race |
| Mikkel Honoré | Road Race |
| Søren Kragh Andersen | Road Race |
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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