Why Lidl-Trek can't or won't fulfill Mattias Skjelmose's ambitions for 2025 after his 180-degree turnaround

For years, Mattias Skjelmose had been clear about his ultimate goal: the 2025 Tour de France. The 24-year-old Dane had been steadily working toward it, progressing through one-week stage races, riding Grand Tours as a free agent, and leading his first Vuelta as a GC contender, all with the aim of making his Tour debut as a top-ten challenger. But this past winter, everything changed. In an interview with IDLProCycling.com he shares what led to his dramatic shift in plans.

For years, Skjelmose had his sights set on that Tour de France, but after his successful 2024 Vuelta, he realized that perhaps an intermediary step was needed. If it had been up to him, he would have preferred to ride the Giro d’Italia in this upcoming season. However, his team, Lidl-Trek — and especially their sponsors — disagreed. They were intent on avoiding a repeat of the scenario from last year's Tour, where Mads Pedersen was the sole leader and had to withdraw early.

While Pedersen was left out of the Tour in favor of Jonathan Milan and had to go to the Giro, Skjelmose — who would have preferred the Giro — was selected for the Tour de France. The realistic Dane understands the team’s rationale.

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Interview Mattias Skjelmose, who has to skip 2025 Giro for Tour

Hi Mattias. To get straight to the point: 2025 has been your big goal for years, especially the Tour de France.

"That’s true, but we adjusted the program a bit in the fall. Now, the plan is once again focused on the Tour."

What changed?

"I would have liked to ride the Giro. After last year’s Vuelta, that seemed like the logical next step to me, but the team wanted me in the Tour de France."

How do you feel about that decision?

"The Giro was my choice, and I was really motivated for it, but I also understand that the team is focusing primarily on the Tour. So that’s where I belong."

Are you the team leader for the GC?

"Yes and no. The main focus is on the sprints with Jonathan Milan. The team’s idea is that I serve as a kind of backup plan in case Jonathan has to withdraw. They don’t want a repeat of last year’s situation with Mads. And that way, according to them, there is less pressure."

Will you have climbing support?

"Right now, it doesn't look like it."

Does that bother you?

"I’d like to have some support, of course, but I also understand that Jonny needs his guys. He’s the most talented sprinter at the moment and has a good shot at the green jersey. And nothing is set in stone yet. For other races, I’ll have riders like Otto Vergaerde and Julien Bernard with me, so maybe they’ll be options for the Tour as well."

Does the Tour suit you as a rider?

"It's a special race, you can't compare it to anything else. In the future, I think I could become a Tour rider, but I'm not one yet. I don't see myself competing for the podium just yet."

How are you preparing for the Tour?

"It’s more or less a copy of last year, but I’ll do the Dauphiné instead of the Tour of Switzerland. Otherwise, I’ll race Ardèche, Drôme, Paris-Nice, the Basque Country, and the Ardennes classics, along with a few high-altitude training camps. For now, I’m mainly focused on the period up to Liège."

In recent years, you’ve experienced both very high highs and very low lows in the classics (second in the 2023 Flèche Wallonne but dropping out last year due to hypothermia). What are your goals this year?

"I want to redeem myself. Two years ago, I was second in Huy, but now we also have Thibau Nys in the team. That’s the classic that might suit him best. I also enjoy riding the Amstel, and Liège might suit me even better. It’s my favorite race, and I really like the classics overall. I’ve been considering riding the Flemish races later in my career because the positioning and things like that just really appeal to me. That adrenaline is really cool. It reminds me a lot of the races I used to do in Denmark."

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Skjelmose can still develop, in many areas

What did you take away from the 2024 Vuelta, where you finished fifth?

"I’m very proud of what I achieved there. The first week didn’t go so well, but I managed to fight my way back. On all but one or two stages, I was among the top three climbers, and that made me very happy. It confirmed my belief that I can compete for a Grand Tour GC."

How did your body respond to the race?

"I got tired, and it was physically demanding, but I handled it well. I didn’t have a bad day, which was very important to me. My ability to recover was also my main goal. I also really enjoy understanding that whole process. If I weren’t a cyclist, I’d probably have studied kinesiology. I find it very interesting how the body works, and how all those details work."

How have you developed as a stage racer in general?

"I love the process. Even more than the races themselves, actually. I really enjoy being the best version of myself. When it comes to altitude training, the team gives me a lot of freedom — this time, for example, my girlfriend is coming along. That helps a lot. I’m still developing, and we’re not implementing all the new ideas immediately, so there’s always room for improvement. But having completed my first Grand Tour as a true GC leader has definitely made me stronger."

Can you explain why the Giro seemed like the logical choice for you now, rather than the Tour?

"With all due respect to the Vuelta, I think it’s the Grand Tour with the least media attention. The Tour is way above it, so the Giro felt like a logical next step in that regard. There’s more pressure than in the Vuelta, but still not as much as in the Tour. In terms of performance, I feel I took a big step forward after the Vuelta, and I would have liked to showcase that in the Giro."

Wouldn’t the Giro without Vingegaard bring just as much pressure as the Tour with him, from a Danish perspective?

"Uh, that could indeed be the case. Every time Jonas starts a race, people expect him to win. If I were to start the Giro, no one would expect me to win it outright. I always put the most pressure on myself anyway. Pressure is a privilege, and you should be happy about it because it means people believe in you."

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Skjelmose hopes for World Championship with Vingegaard

Speaking of Vingegaard: would you like to ride the World Championships in Rwanda with him as a potential wildcard?

"If Jonas competes, absolutely. I would fully support him, and this World Championship is definitely a race that should suit me well. I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but I really hope he’ll be there."

Do you see yourself reaching the level of Jonas, Tadej, and Remco?

"I’ve always said that I want to be the best version of myself, but I don’t know if that’s possible. Maybe I’ll be able to follow them here and there this year, but I think they’re still one or two steps ahead of me and the other riders. They’re all still young, so I don’t see them slowing down anytime soon either."

How can you still improve?

"We’re trying to take things to the next level. I had a really good winter, and as long as I keep improving, I’m happy. Where that will take me exactly, I don’t know. Physically, I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been, so in that sense, I’m looking forward to the upcoming season with a lot of confidence."

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