No Mads Pedersen, but another big leader for Denmark at the World Championships, but who will support him?
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Follow us on GoogleMattias Skjelmose must aim for a good result for Denmark at the World Cycling Championships in Rwanda. The Lidl-Trek climber has been designated as team leader by the Danish Cycling Federation, according to the federation's official channels. Denmark had already decided that it would only travel to Africa with elite selections and would also skip the individual time trials.
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After his withdrawal from the Tour de France, Skjelmose was still seen at work in the Tour of Denmark, where he mainly rode in support of Mads Pedersen. Pedersen will not be in Rwanda, as this year's World Championships will be for pure climbers. With 267.5 kilometers and no less than 5,475 meters of climbing around Kigali, riders such as Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert have also decided not to make the trip to Rwanda.
Skjelmose will be supported in his World Championship mission by a diverse group. Anders Foldager, Asbjørn Hellemose, and Christopher Juul-Jensen are fast riders from Jayco AlUla, and Mikkel Honoré and Michael Valgren from EF Education-EasyPost do generally not compete with the best climbers in the final. Anthon Charming (Astana) and Casper Pedersen (Soudal-Quick Step) are also on the list.
Despite a lack of real support on the climbs, national coach Michael Mørkøv is hopeful of a top result for Skjelmose. “Mattias has shown this year that he can beat the best,” says the former rider, referring to his victory in the Amstel Gold Race, where he beat Tadej Pogacar. “With both experienced and young riders, I think we are prepared for all scenarios.”
In the women's race, only Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (CANYON/SRAM zondacrypto) and Solbjørk Anderson (Uno-X Mobility) will be competing.
Denmark selection - World cycling championship 2025
- Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
- Anders Foldager (Team Jayco AlUla)
- Anthon Charmig (XDS Astana)
- Christopher Juul Jensen (Team Jayco AlUla)
- Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost)
- Asbjørn Hellemose (Team Jayco AlUla)
- Mikkel Honoré (EF Education-EasyPost)
- Casper Pedersen (Soudal-Quick Step)
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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