PRESS CONFERENCE: "I was told I was going to be the sole leader" - Mattias Skjelmose on Lidl-Trek future and frustration at changes in team plans

Mattias Skjelmose spoke to the media at Lidl Trek’s press conference about his evolving ambitions, his focus on the Ardennes, shared leadership with Juan Ayuso in stage races, managing a long term back issue, and how he views his role within a rapidly growing team. CyclingUpToDate was present as the Dane answered questions in an extended back and forth.

No Grand Tours? Did you ask for it? Because last year you wanted to become a better GC rider and now you’ve fully changed.
No, no, no, to just target the Ardennes and Worlds. In the Ardennes we first supported Juan in the Tour and I said, that’s what we’ll do, I’ll take that. The Ardennes was always one of my favourite races.

But of course winning Amstel helped that decision a lot. I still have unfinished business with Quebec, so hopefully I can do a pro race over there next year.

And Juan is also going to that race, right?
Not as far as I know.

Didn’t he say it before?
This is new.

Is he going to help you there?
This again, I wasn’t told. I was told I was going to be the sole leader in the Ardennes.

What do you think of that, if he’s going there with you?
It’s going to be nice. It’ll be the next talk.

Last year in June you told us that you were going for full leadership in the Giro the following season. What changed in the meantime?
That the team decided I don’t go to the Giro. I wanted to do the Giro, but the team decided otherwise.

Like I said, I wanted to do the Ardennes, and that’s not very suitable with performing in GC in the Giro.

But you will continue to chase GC in stage races throughout the year, outside the Grand Tours?
Normally, me and Juan will share leadership in both the Pyrenees and Pais Vasco, and then take it from there.

How did it feel to beat two of the modern time aliens in the peloton?
Of course it’s special. I wasn’t expecting it, and I don’t think anybody expected to start a race with both of them. It makes me happy and gives me a lot of motivation for the next years.

You must be incredibly proud when you look back at those images. Do you revisit that moment often?
I’ve seen the finish, or the last 10 kilometres, once. I don’t like to look back too much, but that race was too special not to.

I also look at the picture. I think it’s my mum’s homepage, so it’s difficult to avoid it. It’s a special picture, and it’s a day I’m not going to forget.

When you look back in 30 years, do you think that will be the pinpoint of your career?
For now, for sure. It’s the biggest result of my career. Both Amstel itself, and the fact that I beat Remco and Tadej on the line.

In Denmark there are many top riders now, but you seem to have become very popular after that victory. I think both my personality and the victory made me a more, I don’t know if it’s the right word, but a popular person in the media.

Because you’re open minded and speak your mind?
I think so. You have to ask the Danish media, but I think that’s why.

There have been talks that you have extended your contract with Lidl Trek. Is that correct?
For now, I haven’t extended anything.

Have you considered looking elsewhere?
Not for now. I’m happy where I am. I’ve said a few times that I see this team as my family, and I can’t see myself riding anywhere else.

Would you have liked to be the GC leader for the Tour de France?
I would like to be the leader, but I also understand the team’s decision. I’m not going to challenge it.

They gave me an explanation and a deal. They support me, so I support them.

Last year there was some discussion around your late season trip to China. Is that something you talk about with the staff?
With China, I think it was a misunderstanding. I wasn’t sad about going to China. It was my own choice.

After Lombardia, travelling for 30 hours to only race three days isn’t perfect for a herniated disc. But that’s not something to blame the team for.

They were aware of your physical problems though?
They knew about them, but I also didn’t question going there. Maybe they could have sent someone else, but I could also have said stop. So it’s wrong to blame the team.

I speak a lot with the coaches and sports directors about my programme. Until now, it’s been a really good decision, and I believe they’ll continue like this in the future.

They believe one option is best for the Tour, and they have the ambition of a Tour podium. If they believe in it, I support that.

Are your physical problems behind you now?
They’re not behind me. We decided not to do surgery. It’s not very risky, but it can be risky.

I spoke with some good physios, and they told me it’s better to do exercises and manage the pain. If I can manage it once a year, it’s better than risking surgery.

I spend a lot of time in the gym every day now to make sure my back is working before I ride. For now, the pain is gone, and hopefully it stays that way.

Is that also why one day races are more of a focus than a three week Tour?
It could be, but I don’t think that’s a thought they have. At least they didn’t tell me that.

With how I’m managing the pain now, it shouldn’t be a problem as long as I take care. Last year the main issue was that I didn’t exercise all winter. Now I know how important it is, and I won’t forget again.

Are you going to the Tour of Flanders? You wanted to last year.
No, not this year. At some point in my career, I’d like to do it, preferably with Mads.

It’s difficult when you want to do altitude camp between Paris Nice and Pais Vasco. I’d still like to do it one day. It’s a special race, and it’s getting harder every year, which could suit climbers more. Maybe at some point it’ll be my shot.

Where will you do altitude between Paris Nice and Pais Vasco?
Andorra. It’ll be around 18 days. There are 22 days between Paris Nice and Pais Vasco.

I live in Andorra, so I’ll drive home Sunday evening and go up to El Cid. It’s 20 minutes from my home, so it’s easy. It’s also easier with the weather, and my fiancée adapts easily.

Many riders say when Pogacar or Van der Poel are in a race, they ride for second. You’ve beaten Pogacar and Remco. Does that change something mentally?
I think 49 times out of 50 they’re going to beat me. But what I realised in Amstel is that if I do everything right from kilometre zero to the finish, and they make a few mistakes, I have a shot.

If they do everything perfectly and I do everything perfectly, it’s going to be very difficult. But if you keep doing as much right as you can, eventually you’ll get your chance. And then it’s about taking it.

Your sports director said you spoke with Ayuso after comments that became headlines. What was that conversation about?
I said I was sorry the media blew it up, because I have nothing against Juan personally. I’m looking forward to making the relationship work.

How has the chemistry been so far?
We’ve only spoken twice, but I think he’s a nice guy. He’s a bit of a nerd like me when it comes to equipment and optimisation. I think we can mirror each other and use each other a lot.

Is it important to race together?
For sure. We need to build a relationship. To use each other properly, we need to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and you learn that best by racing together.

Being teammates also means we can be more honest, which makes it easier to adapt and plan.

What do you think about how the media interpreted your comments?
I knew straight away it was going to blow up. I regret saying it in the media, because it should have been handled internally.

If you really look at what I said, I didn’t say anything bad about Juan. I just said I was sad about the course. His arrival wasn’t something I was sad about at all.

Do you sometimes feel misunderstood by the media?
A lot of times. But that’s the media’s job. They earn money by clicks. Taking things out of context is part of that. We just need to make sure it doesn’t go too far.

Did you make that clear to Juan?
Juan is a smart guy. He read the interview and said he understood me. I told him I had nothing against him. I think he’s a nice guy, and he turned out to be.

Looking back at the 2025 season, what was your most difficult moment?
When I crashed in Maryland. Sitting in the hotel bed, thinking my hand was broken, I broke down in tears in front of my son. I could see the whole season gone. That was the hardest day.

But you bounced back quite quickly afterwards.
We went to the hospital. My son was with me the whole time. The hand wasn’t broken, just a contusion. It was painful, but I could ride.

I finished 14th in Quebec, had bad luck in Montreal, and then bounced back again.

Two years ago everything seemed planned around the 2025 Tour. What is the plan now?
With the team growing, Lidl coming in and other partners arriving, my goal became the team’s goal.

Now it’s not about me. It’s about the team performing, podiuming the Tour or winning it in the future. I’m a brick in that puzzle.

If it’s me, Juan or someone else, I’ll be happy. The team wants to be the next team to win the Tour.

We know it won’t happen now, or probably not next year while Pogacar and Vingegaard are there. But when the opportunity comes, we want to be ready.