Pedersen and Skjelmose confirm Vuelta plans after Tour success

Both Mads Pedersen and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) enjoyed standout Tours this July. Pedersen won stage 4 and the green jersey, becoming the sixth rider in history to claim the points classification at all three Grand Tours.

Meanwhile, in the absence of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), Skjelmose ended in Paris as the highest-placed Dane in the GC, finishing sixth, 14:59 behind race winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). 

While the Tour winner and world champion continues to leave the door open to a potential Vuelta return for the first time since 2019, the Lidl-Trek duo have appeared to be more concrete on an appearance in Spain next month.

When asked by TV2 Sport when we will next see him, Pedersen replied, “In the Vuelta.”

Meanwhile, Skjelmose also confirmed that he will ride the Spanish Grand Tour, according to TV2 Sport.

Last season, Pedersen claimed victory from the breakaway on stage 15, en route to winning the points classification for the second time at the Spanish Grand Tour. In total, the former world champion has four stage wins at the Vuelta, having claimed three and the points classification in 2022 also.

Skjelmose also enjoyed great success in his only previous appearance at the Vuelta in 2024. On that occasion, the Dane finished fifth overall and won the youth classification. 

The 2026 Vuelta kicks off in Monaco on August 22, and concludes in Granada on September 13. Names that currently feature on the early provisional start list include João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike). Thibau Nys is also expected to be included in the Lidl-Trek squad.