Skjelmose extends with Lidl-Trek through 2028
Danish climbing and GC talent Mattias Skjelmose has committed his future to Lidl-Trek through 2028, extending a tenure that began with his first pro contract in 2021 (after staging with the team in late 2020).
"Extending my contract with Lidl-Trek means everything to me,” the 25-year-old Dane said in the team's announcement. “I’ve said it a lot of times before, and I’ll probably say it many more times in the future. This team is my family, I find myself at home, and I couldn’t see myself riding anywhere else."
This news comes three days after the now-German WorldTeam's press launch last Friday, where Lidl-Trek's leaders laid out their plans for 2026. Having previously indicated a passion for the Giro, Skjelmose revealed he'd target the Ardennes Classics – where last year he did the seemingly impossible by beating both Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel at Amstel Gold – and Vuelta a España, the latter after riding the Tour de France in support of new teammate Juan Ayuso and green jersey-hunter Mads Pedersen.
It also comes in the context of supposed friction between the Dane and his new teammate Ayuso, most recently being caught unawares by media who apparently knew more about the Spaniard's 2026 programme than Skjelmose: "This again, I wasn't told [Ayuso was going to be there]. I was told I was going to be the sole leader." Then there's the added layer of speculation amid rumours about Derek Gee-West's imminent arrival.
"Mattias has grown into one of the pillars of our team,” said Luca Guercilena, the team's GM, in the same announcement. “He has shown he can perform at the highest level, whether in one-day races or across three weeks, and that versatility is incredibly important for us. Just as valuable is his mentality — he leads when required, but he is also willing to work for his teammates. Having Mattias committed for the coming seasons is key to our ambitions, and we’re excited to continue building with him as one of our leaders.”
