PRESS CONFERENCE | Mattias Skjelmose on Lidl-Trek's split Tour de France ambitions: "A good GC is not the main goal of the team"

For the second time in his career, Mattias Skjelmose is set to head to the Tour de France in 2025. As part of his media duties, the Dane was present at Lidl-Trek's pre-race press conference, where CyclingUpToDate were on hand to pick up on the 24-year-old's ambitions for the coming Grand Tour.

A star of the spring, Skjelmose stunned Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel to win the Amstel Gold Race earlier this year. Although, illness has plagued his season since, a victory last time out at the Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica showed some exciting signs of positivity before his return to the Tour de France. How the team will be able to balance Skjelmose's GC ambitions with the stage winning goals of Jonathan Milan and Thibau Nys remains to be seen however. 

The Dane has shared some interesting details about his preparation which included seven weeks at altitude - mostly at home in Andorra - and also that in 2026 he will have full backing at the Giro d'Italia to fight for the overall classification - and how that impacted his decision to be at this Tour despite the lack in climbing support, which he was disappointed with.

A: I mean, it's difficult to say because I only have my own benchmark. And what I saw in the Tour de Suisse and Dauphiné — everybody is going crazy fast. Also, a lot faster than before. So it's difficult to see how I compare to other guys. I think I did everything as good as I could, looking at the circumstances I had, and then we'll see how good it will be and if it's even enough to do something.

A: It's difficult to say because, again, I don't know the shape and I don't know how the first week will unfold. I think it's a difficult first week, especially when I'm alone a lot, and I think we'll have to look at it after the first TT. But I will have no problem going for stages and a potential KOM jersey if it comes to that.

A: I mean, it's been difficult and of course my sickness didn't improve my feeling about the race. The race itself I love. I think the Tour is something special. But I didn't feel ready, especially with this first week. I think it's difficult coming here without the big support from the flat. But yeah, I'm looking forward. I think I can do something in the race. I did a different approach, made a bet, stayed seven weeks in altitude before coming here. And we hope it can benefit me in the last part of the race, where the race gets super hard. So maybe that means that I will have to go for stages. But that's also something I haven't done really before. And I think it's also going to be interesting to try.

A: I mean, the team promised me leadership and full support for the Giro next year. And that was really what convinced me to go this year and really go all in and then see how it is. I mean, they said I have no pressure. And I think a good GC is not the main goal of the team. I think if Jonathan Milan could win a stage or two, and I potentially could win a stage and try for the KOM jersey, it would also be a big success.

A: I mean, it was a special race. Because 80% of the peloton came from racing four days in Occitanie and having to do a long travel the day before. And I was of course super motivated and prepared perfectly because I was in Andorra. I had already been at altitude for five weeks at that point. And doing the race — it was an average altitude of 1500 meters. It helped a lot. Of course, I would wish I just won alone with one minute. That would have confirmed my feelings even more. But a win is a win. And it was a good ride being there. I think Henrik was sixth in Dauphiné. And I beat him fair and square.

A: Yes. Of course, it was a tough decision. I think they have a lot of ideas. Johnny was the main priority. And Johnny needs his squad. And then it was decided that there would be full support for Johnny. And as you see in the squad that's here, there are not a lot of mountain domestiques either. So that's something we have to live with.

A: Of course, I was a little bit disappointed. I did every single race this year with Otto. Of course, I'm going to miss him, especially during this first week. But it's hopefully not going to be my last Tour. And as long as I'm doing the Tour, I think there's a big chance Otto will come.

A: It was really hard. It was probably one of the hardest moments in my career, actually. Because first of all, we didn't know what it was. And it just came back. So I was sick for one week. Then I had one good day. Then I was sick again. Then I had a week. And then I was sick again. And with the same thing coming back, nobody could answer me what it was. And I was really low. At some point, I woke up in the day, just sat one hour on the sofa, staring. Because I had no motivation to go on the bike. I had no motivation to make breakfast. I had to wait for my wife to wake up. She came in and said, "You need to go out now." It was a difficult period. And I think without my wife, it would have been a struggle to come here.

A: I think it's difficult. I think we have a lot of big mountain stages where there's a lot of points. What I understand, Coucherelle has double points. Unfortunately, that's the end of the day. So I could see Jonas winning that stage also. And that would make it difficult if they get double points there. We have to see. I think it's a good Tour to go for the mountain jersey. Because there's not a lot of points in the first week. So that means if you have a crash or bad luck, you can always decide, and then you still have time to catch back up when it comes to second and third week. I'm not going to fight everything I can for the top 15. If I can win a stage or fight for the KOM jersey, that also means something. Just being on the podium in Paris, no matter what it is, is something special.

A: It didn't change, no? I like it. I think Danish people have quite a good history with the polka-dot jersey. I think both Bjarne and Rasmussen won it at some point. And also both Magnus Cort had it for a couple of days and Michael Morkov. So I think it's a special jersey. I really like it. I had the opportunity to help Ciccone win it in 2013. And that was something special. I thought it looked cool on him. So let's see, maybe it could also look cool on me.

A: I mean, not really. I think the plan is that Johnny has his guys, and then Quinn Simmons is going to pull. And when Quinn is done pulling, he's going to stay behind with me in case something happens. We're not going to take any risks, and we're not going to stress over losing 30 seconds or something like this in the first week.

A: I mean, of course. But again, the priority is Johnny. So we have to find a way in the middle to see if I can also have a place up there. But, you know, it's difficult when Johnny's guys need to be there. And if I'm suddenly fifth wheel, I'm quite far behind in the bunch. And then it can be difficult being in the first echelon when there are so many good teams. But of course, we're going to try if that's the race scenario. It's difficult to say now, but I think we have good directors to think about how we do it the best. And also, people like Jasper Stuyven or Edward Theuns are incredibly good at this. And both have leaders doing the podium and doing sprints in the same race. So I think we can find a middle way for sure.

A: Yeah. No, I think Thibau is basically here for these stages. So it's going to be him we are going for. Of course, I don't know if I'm going to be a domestique for those stages or I'm just going to try to follow the best as I can. But Thibau is going to be the best option for those stages for sure.

A: Oh, for sure. I mean, I don't know how the other guys look at me. I mean, I don't know. I can tell you all I want. They maybe think he's faster. Oh, for sure. But I can tell you all I want, that I'm not in good shape and all this. But if the other guys don't believe it and they don't want to give me 10 seconds, then it's another point.