After finishing sixth at the 2026 Tour de France — his best result yet in the race — Mattias Skjelmose says no one currently on the team has done better.
“After all, I finished sixth at the Tour de France, which I think is a relatively good result,” he told TV 2 Sport. “As far as I know, there’s nobody else on the team who is here right now who has achieved a better result at the Tour. So nobody can take that role away from me yet.”
The timing is pointed. Felix Gall is joining for 2027 after podium finishes at both the Giro and Vuelta this season. Juan Ayuso, Derek Gee-West and incoming top-10 Tour rider Jordan Jegat already give the squad serious Grand Tour depth.
Skjelmose edged Ayuso by one place in Paris and later completed a Tour-Vuelta double, slipping to 13th in Spain after illness and fatigue. The double left him so drained he pulled out of the World Championships, but he still views the workload as useful preparation.
“After the Tour, I’m more confident in the role and I trust my own abilities more,” he said. “I’m happy with my season and what I’ve delivered in the two Grand Tours.”
Lidl-Trek management continues to back his long-term development. For Skjelmose, the message remains simple: sixth at the Tour is a result none of his teammates can currently match.