Lidl-Trek announces that Amstel Gold Race winner Mattias Skjelmose has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the team until 2028. Skjelmose joined Lidl-Trek in 2021, his first professional team, presenting himself as a young talent with enormous potential. He quickly confirmed his promises with excellent results in the general classification in his debut season, before definitively establishing himself in 2022 with an impressive overall victory at the Tour de Luxembourg, sealed by a dominant performance in the time trial.
The Danish rider continued his upward trajectory in 2023, showing all his ability with seven victories across different terrains, including the overall success at Tour de Suisse and the Danish national road race title. His long-term development towards Grand Tours accelerated, and after gaining valuable experience in his first two three-week races, Skjelmose delivered an excellent performance at the 2024 Vuelta a España, conquering the White Jersey and placing among the top five in the general classification.
In 2025, Skjelmose focused on the Ardennes Classics, races that perfectly suit his burning accelerations and climbing strength. His victory at the Amstel Gold Race stood out as one of the season's decisive moments, as he beat Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in an exciting three-way sprint. Despite injuries later in the year, Skjelmose demonstrated resilience and maturity in his return to form, highlighted by an excellent fourth place at the World Championships in Rwanda.
Looking towards 2026 and beyond, Skjelmose will continue to aim for success in the Ardennes Classics and the Vuelta a España, entering the next phase of his career with Lidl-Trek.
"Renewing my contract with Lidl-Trek means everything to me," said Mattias Skjelmose. "I've said it many times before and will probably repeat it in the future. This team is my family, I feel at home and couldn't imagine racing anywhere else. It's been a truly special journey. When I joined the Team, Vincenzo Nibali was the big star, and now with Lidl, Trek, and other great sponsors, the project has become much bigger. Growing with the Team is something really special: you never know what the future holds, but the fact that I entered at that moment, I've already done it, and now I feel that the team and I have grown together. The ambition was always there, but it took some time to reach our goals, and it's fantastic to be able to continue this path with the Team".
He adds: "The fact that our individual objectives align with those of the team has always made us such a strong squad. We haven't always had the biggest budget, but we've always gotten the most out of every rider, mainly because we always find the ability to work for each other and help each other give our maximum, while also creating a true team spirit. I've never spoken to anyone who didn't want to join this Team, and that's all credit to our team spirit. We always have fun, no matter who we're racing with. I could share a room with any of them and would have just as much fun. I've never been part of other teams, but I'm quite sure you don't find this feeling in every team. I feel at home, I've never been a very sociable type, but this Team has made everything much easier. I feel completely integrated. It's hard to leave home, but I couldn't wait to come to this training camp to see every single person, from cyclists to management to every single staff member. We all have a lot of fun and we're all equal, and that's really special. I really like an environment where no one is superior to others".
"Mattias has become one of the pillars of our Team," said Luca Guercilena, General Manager of Lidl-Trek. "He has proven he can give his best, both in one-day races and three-week races, and this versatility is incredibly important to us. Equally valuable is his mentality: he's a leader when necessary, but he's also willing to work for his teammates. Having Mattias committed for the upcoming seasons is fundamental to our ambitions, and we are excited to continue building with him as one of our leaders."