Mattias Skjelmose
Mattias Skjelmose (born 26 September 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Danish climber, stage racer and contender in hilly classics, competing for Lidl–Trek. He had a breakthrough season in 2023 by winning the Tour de Suisse and has since continued to build on that promise. In 2025, he underlined his versatility by winning the Amstel Gold Race, where he outsprinted both Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in a thrilling finish. Find Mattias Skjelmose’s latest results, stats and race calendar on this page.
Biography of pro cyclist Mattias Skjelmose
Mattias Skjelmose is a Danish all-rounder who has quickly established himself among the most complete riders of his generation. Capable of winning one-day Classics and competing for Grand Tour podiums, he gives Lidl-Trek a leader for almost every type of race.
His blend of climbing ability, time-trialling and a fast finish makes him difficult to predict and difficult to beat. Few riders his age can claim victories as varied as a WorldTour stage race and a hilly Monument-style Classic against the very best in the sport.
Early life and rise in Denmark
Skjelmose was born in Copenhagen and grew up on Amager, joining local club Amager Cykle Ring as a child. He showed promise early, winning races as a junior and taking the Tour du Pays de Vaud in 2018. His path to the top included a setback when he served a ten-month suspension linked to a contaminated dietary supplement, returning to racing in 2019.
He rebuilt steadily, riding for the Continental ranks before joining Trek-Segafredo, now Lidl-Trek, as a stagiaire in 2020 and turning professional with the team in 2021. He has remained loyal to the squad ever since.
Breakthrough and the Amstel Gold Race win
Skjelmose's breakthrough arrived in 2023. He finished second behind Tadej Pogačar at La Flèche Wallonne and then won the Tour de Suisse overall, one of the most prestigious week-long stage races on the calendar, confirming his arrival as a top-tier talent.
His signature victory came on 20 April 2025, when he won the Amstel Gold Race, out-sprinting pre-race favourites Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in a tense finale. The win cemented his reputation as a rider who can beat the sport's biggest names on the biggest days. He returned in 2026 as defending champion and finished second, behind Evenepoel, underlining his consistency in the Ardennes-style Classics.
Rider profile: strengths, style, and characteristics
Skjelmose is a true all-rounder. He climbs well on both long ascents and short, punchy hills, time-trials competitively, and has the finishing speed to win reduced-bunch sprints. That combination makes him equally suited to hilly Classics and to general-classification battles in stage races.
Tactically astute and calm under pressure, he is known for reading races well and timing his efforts to perfection, qualities that turned the 2025 Amstel Gold Race in his favour against more explosive rivals.
Rivalries
As one of the few riders to have beaten both Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel on the same day, Skjelmose is increasingly woven into the sport's biggest rivalries. His Ardennes duels with Evenepoel, winning Amstel Gold in 2025, then finishing runner-up to him in 2026, have become a recurring storyline, while his repeated battles with Pogačar in the hilly Classics mark him as a rider unafraid of the very best.
Personal life
Skjelmose has stayed grounded throughout his rise, remaining closely connected to his Copenhagen roots and the club where he started. He is regarded within the peloton as a thoughtful, level-headed competitor, and his long-term commitment to Lidl-Trek reflects a preference for stability and a clear sense of where he belongs.
Records and milestones
- Winner, Amstel Gold Race 2025 (ahead of Pogačar and Evenepoel)
- Second, Amstel Gold Race 2026
- Overall winner, Tour de Suisse 2023
- Second, La Flèche Wallonne 2023
- Fifth overall and young rider classification winner, Vuelta a España 2024
- Winner, Tour du Pays de Vaud 2018 (junior)
- Long-term contract with Lidl-Trek through 2028
What's next for Mattias Skjelmose?
Still in his mid-twenties and signed with Lidl-Trek through 2028, Skjelmose has room to grow into a genuine Grand Tour contender while continuing to chase the biggest one-day Classics. With wins already over the sport's dominant riders, he is positioned as a long-term leader and a regular threat across the season's marquee races.
