“The plan is I will succeed Mads Pedersen as Lidl-Trek’s Classics leader” – Mathias Vacek insists he still has “a lot to learn” from former world champion

Lidl-Trek’s long-term Classics roadmap is no longer a rumour whispered in development meetings. It is an internal plan. And at its centre stands 23-year-old Czech champion Mathias Vacek.

Vacek has made it clear that the American WorldTeam sees him as the future focal point of its cobbled campaign, but he is equally clear about the timeline. Speaking to Wielerflits, he acknowledged both the ambition and the distance still to travel. “The plan within Lidl-Trek is that I will succeed Mads as leader for the Classics. But for now, I still have a lot to learn from him,” Vacek said.

At just 23, the Czech all rounder already carries the profile of a rider built for the northern races. Strong against the clock, powerful after hard stages and comfortable in reduced groups, he has repeatedly hinted at a ceiling that stretches beyond domestique duties. During last year’s Opening Weekend he was arguably among the strongest riders in the race, while his Giro d’Italia performances further underlined his engine and resilience.

Yet for now, the structure at Lidl-Trek remains clear. Pedersen, the 2019 world champion, is still the reference point.

Vacek does not describe a hierarchy built on restraint. Instead, he speaks about a partnership forged during the Giro that altered his perception of what he could become.

“Even though we had only ridden a few races together before, the Giro last year changed everything. That’s when it became clear that we are very strong together,” he explained. “Mads always creates an atmosphere where we have to win. He can really motivate you to give 120%. I really enjoy that.”

The Dane’s approach, Vacek believes, suits his own racing instincts. “Mads does not race conservatively, but very openly. That suits me and brings out my strengths. I’m really looking forward to racing with him.”

The dynamic is not simply mentor and apprentice. It is collaborative, competitive and built around shared qualities. Both riders thrive in aggressive, selective races where positioning and power matter more than pure climbing numbers. “We saw that we share many qualities. We can help each other win races. We have to keep building on that, especially in the Classics.”

The timing of Vacek’s comments inevitably lands against the backdrop of Pedersen’s disrupted start to 2026. The Dane’s crash at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana left him with a broken wrist and collarbone, casting uncertainty over his early spring programme. But Vacek’s words are not framed as opportunistic. They are framed as patient.

“I still have a long way to go to reach his level,” he admitted. “On the other hand, I also know that I really have the qualities to one day take over that role from him. Everything I invest now, I believe, will pay off.”

Self-awareness is important. Vacek understands his own profile. He is not trying to reinvent himself as a pure climber or a Grand Tour contender. “I know I will never be able to follow the very best climbers. And if I try, I lose strength on the flat and in the hilly races. That is why I will continue doing lead outs with Mads, where our strength lies after tough stages and in smaller groups.”

It is a pragmatic assessment from a rider still shaping his identity. Rather than chase everything, he is refining the areas that could eventually make him a Monument contender in his own right.

Pedersen himself has publicly praised his younger teammate’s potential, describing him as “insane” and highlighting the Czech’s willingness to sacrifice personal chances in order to learn. For Vacek, that trade-off is deliberate. “I want to help him win his dream race, Roubaix. I know he can do it,” he said.

That line speaks volumes. Vacek’s ambition is not framed as an immediate takeover, but as accumulation. Experience in positioning. Experience in pacing cobbled sectors. Experience in reading races that unravel in crosswinds and chaos.

He also has a broader canvas in mind. Alongside the Classics, he expects opportunities in the Tour de France, in early breakaways and in time trials, with European and World Championships on the horizon. The development is layered rather than singular. “I am not worried about my own chances. That is all fine. First, I focus on the Classics and then on the Tour.”

Within Lidl-Trek, there is no ambiguity about the direction of travel. Team leadership has already indicated that once Pedersen eventually steps aside from the Classics spearhead role, Vacek will be ready.

For now, though, the apprenticeship continues.

At 23, with national titles, Grand Tour experience and a long-term contract securing his place in the team’s core, Vacek is not being rushed. He is being prepared.

The plan, as he openly acknowledges, is succession. But the method is patience, repetition and learning under one of the sport’s most proven one-day racers.

And if that process continues as intended, Lidl-Trek’s future Classics leader is already riding in the right direction.