'Huge fight between 15 riders' - Vacek targets Tour debut in 2026

Mathias Vacek has set his sights on making his Tour de France debut next season after another strong campaign, which also saw the Czech sign a long-term contract extension with Lidl-Trek through 2030, illustrating the team's faith in the 23-year-old. 

"The Tour de France has been my dream since I was a child, and next year I have the opportunity to ride it," Vacek told Livesport Zprávy. "If everything goes according to plan, I stay healthy, and there are no problems, it could work out."

Although he is yet to make his Tour de France debut, Vacek has already illustrated his value in a Grand Tour team at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. In the 2024 Vuelta, Vacek finished second in both the opening time trial and on stage 7, plus collecting three additional top-10 stage finishes. 

At the Giro this year, Vacek played an important role as a key teammate during Lidl-Trek's six-stage victories, particularly for Mads Pedersen in the opening week.

Despite his ambition, Vacek understands the challenges in securing one of the coveted Tour spots in a very competitive Lidl-Trek squad, which has been further strengthened with the arrival of Juan Ayuso. 

Only UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma | Lease a Bike featured more riders in the top 100 of UCI season rankings than Lidl-Trek in 2025, illustrating the team’s strength in depth.

"It all depends on several factors: who the team sends as the leader, how many people the leader will need, and who they choose. Then there are only two or three places left, where there is a huge fight between maybe fifteen riders," said Vacek. "The best thing to do is prepare, have a good season from the start, and I believe it will work out."

Vacek believes his consistent performances last season have strengthened his position within the team and increased his chances of a Tour debut. "I think that last year was decisive. It was a big step forward. I showed that I can be consistent throughout the season, that I can stay in shape without any major fluctuations. And the team always appreciates that."

For 2026, Vacek expects to continue his successful partnership with Mads Pedersen while hoping for occasional opportunities to ride for himself, something that will become increasingly important with the departure of Jasper Stuyven, who has been a dependable teammate for the Dane for many years.

"The past season has shown that we get along very well with Mads Pedersen, we work well together. He also chose me as his main helper. So I will mainly ride the program with him, and then of course there is the Tour," said Vacek. "In the second part of the season, I should have a race of my own, maybe a shorter stage race."

Despite Tadej Pogačar's current supremacy in the sport, Vacek believes that there are riders who are up to the task in the Classics. "But in the classics, Mads [Pedersen], [Mathieu] Van der Poel, and Wout van Aert certainly have a chance," said Vacek, who will be hoping to support Pedersen to a first monument victory of his career in 2026.