In 2023, Mattias Skjelmose achieved a notable breakthrough in his development as a cyclist, securing several victories in prominent races, including the Tour de Suisse. Now, for the upcoming season, he aims to further elevate his performance and draw inspiration from the Jumbo-Visma rivalry to reach his goals.
“Jonas is incredible, but the same goes for Tadej Pogacar. The latter is very strong throughout the year. Second place in the Tour de France is a great result, but for a rider of his caliber, it’s disappointing. And the fact that Jonas can beat a cyclist like Pogacar is clearly impressive,” Skjelmose stated in an interview with the Dutch website Wieler Revue.
Skjelmose reveals that he draws inspiration from the Dutch team and wants to have a racing approach more similar to theirs.
“No matter how they did the Vuelta a España, every rider on Jumbo-Visma performs to the best of their ability. They know exactly what to do to get the most out of their riders’ bodies,” says the Danish cyclist.
As the leader of the Lidl-Trek team, Skjelmose is excited about the signing of several highly talented cyclists who will join the American team next year, driven by a substantial increase in sponsor investment.
He reveals his main deficiency: “Furthermore, I see our strategies as quite similar. The only difference is that I am in charge of my own dietary preparation. My nutritionist has devised a personalized plan for me, and I appreciate the discipline required to follow this meticulous routine.”
Goals for 2024
His goals for 2024 are not yet clear, but the 23-year-old has an idea of how he plans to start the year: “I haven’t talked to the team about 2024 yet, but in that regard, I would like to emulate Jumbo-Visma. I want to do an altitude camp in February.”
“I still need to discuss this with the team, but as far as I’m concerned, that will be the approach next year. I’ve been very steady this year due to my good basic level, and of course, I’ve peaked at certain moments, but I hope to reach even higher peaks this way.”
