Lidl-Trek's breakout star Mathias Vacekhas has two major goals for the Tour de France: 'I made some mistakes'

Mathias Vacek isn't beating around the bush: he's in top form for the 2026 Tour de France. The 24-year-old Czech rider from Lidl-Trek already mentioned told IDL Pro Cycling during the Tour de Suisse that he’d had a perfect preparation, and he elaborated on his goals in an interview with online cycling journalist Lukáš Ronald Lukács.

Vacek is making his debut in the Tour de France, having already competed in the Vuelta a España in 2024 and the Giro d'Italia in 2025. He made his mark in both of those Grand Tours by wearing the white youth jersey for a while. And that is exactly his goal in the Tour de France, where Lidl-Trek heads into the race with multiple ambitions from day one.

For example, Juan Ayuso, as the brand-new team leader, is aiming for the GC podium in Paris. And Mads Pedersen is eager to go for the green jersey. Pedersen has already won the points classification at the Vuelta (2022 and 2025) and the Giro (2025), but Pedersen has yet to do so in the Tour. He has, however, won two stages in five Tour de France appearances.

"Our team's main goal is to get Juan on the podium," Vacek confirms. "Personally, I think that, given this year's competition, a top-five finish would be a huge success, but the team obviously has the highest ambitions. With Mads, we’re fighting for the green jersey, but he isn’t the fastest in mass sprints. So we’ll have to do it Peter Sagan-style—by making the race tough through breakaways, intermediate sprints, and stage finishes.”

Vacek will play his part for Ayuso and Pedersen, but he’ll also get his own chance to shine. On Day 1, Lidl-Trek is already aiming to make a strong showing in the team time trial, but it’s Stage 2 in particular that Vacek has circled in red on his calendar. The stage runs from Tarragona to Barcelona, featuring a local loop in Barcelona that will be completde three times. The climb to Castell de Montjuïc (1.6 kilometers at an 8.8 percent gradient) is the highlight.

For Vacek, this is the perfect stage to strike, now that he has shown—with a third-place finish in the Tour de Suisse—that he’s climbing better than ever. “I feel really good and am probably in the best shape of my life. Realistically, I’d like to go for the white jersey early in the Tour, but I also dream of a stage win.”

"I've already worn the white jersey in the Giro and the Vuelta, but I still haven't won it in the Tour. My first chance to go for a stage win is already in Stage 2. This is really a stage for me,” said Vacek, who has turned things around after a disappointing spring. "I made some mistakes leading up to the classics because I was so eager to prove myself after Mads’ injury. Leading up to the Tour, I stuck to the plan."

That preparation was meticulous. “I accepted that doing less sometimes yields more.” I trained in the Sierra Nevada, slept in an altitude tent, and paid close attention to my diet. I lost a few kilos so I could compete in the hills. I really gave it my all to be well-prepared for the Tour de France. I believe it will pay off.”