Skjelmose's Belgian bodyguard: "Maybe the illness is actually an opportunity ahead of the Tour de France"

Vergaerde and Skjelmose rode together in last year's Vuelta, where the GC rider finished fifth and won the young rider's jersey. Skjelmose was so impressed with Vergaerde's work in that race that he asked Lidl-Trek before the start of the 2025 season if he could have Vergaerde at his side in as many races as possible.

As a result, the two have already competed in Paris-Nice, the Tour of the Basque Country, and the Amstel Gold Race, which Skjelmose won. They were also at altitude, where Skjelmose suffered from a stomach infection. This prevented him from competing in the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse.

"There's just not enough time to reach the level I want to be at. I'm still focusing on fully recovering and catching up on what I've missed, and I'll do everything I can to be ready for the Tour,“ he said on social media. ”This season has been a quiet lesson in patience. Not everything breaks with noise - sometimes, it just slips out of rhythm. That’s what this stretch has felt like. It’s been frustrating, yes. But I’ve learned to listen, not rush. Being honest with myself only makes me more motivated, and my goals are even clearer. The Tour de France is my priority.“

Vergaerde's program also changed several times: he rode the Tour de Suisse, where he spoke to IDLProCycling.com about the last few weeks. “It wasn't fun for him, but I think the damage will ultimately be limited. Maybe it's actually an opportunity for him to prepare out of the spotlight."

The fact that the first mountain stage in the Tour is not until week two also works in Skjelmose's favor. "Because he didn't have to race at full speed in the Tour de Suisse for a classification, he may have some energy left in week three."

“My program has also changed a lot in recent weeks, and it's not yet completely clear,” said Vergaerde, who is on Lidl-Trek's long list for the Tour. There's a lot of competition there, as the team is also going for the sprints with Jonathan Milan and has a stage winner like Thibau Nys at its disposal.

Vergaerde is not worried about Skjelmose. “Mattias is a very professional guy who knows his job. He has had some bad luck this year, but it has still been a very good year,” said the Belgian, referring to crashes in Paris-Nice, the Tour of the Basque Country, and the Flèche Wallonne, among others.

Skjelmose himself gained confidence with a victory in Andorra. "I was ill for a long time and missed the Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse as a result. Fortunately, I could race here and think I'm in good shape for the Tour. “I felt good, and the team did a perfect job. I rode at my own pace and knew it would come down to a sprint. The Tour is a completely different race, but now I have more confidence in a good Tour. I'm looking forward to it.”