‘You can really feel that Tadej is gone’ - Skjelmose sees Vuelta opportunities amid Lidl-Trek’s 2027 roster squeeze

For Skjelmose, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

“You can really feel that Tadej is gone,” the Lidl-Trek rider told TV 2 Sport after stage nine. “It is becoming extremely tactical, but that is completely fine by me.”

Skjelmose finished sixth on the stage, 20 seconds behind Enric Mas and Oscar Onley, and remains in contention for a place on the final podium. He sits sixth overall, 3:55 behind race leader Mas.

Pogačar's absence has changed the way that fight is being raced. Rather than one team setting a relentless tempo and the other favourites reacting, there is now more hesitation and more room for tactical moves.

Asked whether that uncertainty was making the Vuelta harder, Skjelmose was clear.

“No, definitely not. Quite the opposite,” he said. “The speed was relatively low all day. I think it is because we are missing a sheriff who can control everything.”

There was one exception. “The last climb was obviously ridiculously hard, but apart from that it was not too bad.”

For now, Skjelmose’s attention is firmly on the fight for the Vuelta podium. Beyond Spain, however, there is also some uncertainty over what his role at Lidl-Trek could look like next season.

Belgian newspaper HLN reported that the team could face a numbers problem ahead of 2027. Jordan Jegat has already been confirmed as a new signing, while Felix Gall, Jordi Meeus and Gregor Mühlberger have also been linked with moves to the team.

According to HLN, Lidl-Trek currently has 31 riders either under contract or expected to join for 2027. That would put the team one rider above the permitted roster size.

The newspaper reports that some riders could be allowed to leave despite still having contracts, with Lidl-Trek prepared to honour their 2027 salaries in order to make room.

Skjelmose is another name mentioned in the report.

According to HLN, the Dane could consider his future as competition for leadership places continues to grow. Juan Ayuso is already one of the team's main stage race leaders, while Derek Gee-West adds another option for the Grand Tours. Gall would add further competition if his reported move is completed.

Skjelmose has made no secret of his own ambitions as a stage race rider and HLN reports that he could look elsewhere if he feels those opportunities are becoming harder to find.