A bit of a surprise from Danish star Mattias Skjelmose. Turns out he will not race the road world championships in Montreal after basically saying his body has had enough racing for 2026.
The Lidl-Trek rider, who was expected to share Danish leadership duties with Mads Pedersen, made the decision during the final stage of the Vuelta a España. Skjelmose has battled illness during the closing week of the Spanish Grand Tour. (So too did Pedersen, who withdrew from the Vuelta.)
The Danish squad for the road worlds
“I had to tell Michael Mørkøv, the former pro and Denmark’s national coach, about an hour ago that I have to pull out because my body can’t take any more,” Skjelmose told TV 2 Sport.
The 29-year-old had already endured a demanding season, including riding the Tour de France and Vuelta, with his GC ambitions in Spain derailed by illness.
Skjelmose said he needs to return home and recover rather than take a place on the Danish team when he knows he cannot perform at the level required.
There was brief—but untrue—speculation that multiple Grand Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard would be returning to competition, not necessarily for the road worlds, but the European Championships. Turns out that wasn’t entirely factual.
Vingegaard raced in the red and white last year at the Euros but skipped the worlds in Rwanda. He has never raced the worlds as an elite, only as an under-23.
And we all know defending champ Tadej Pogačar won’t be there to try for the three-peat. He crashed out of the Vuelta on a seemingly safe, flat day during Stage 8. (Neither will his pro cyclist fiancée, Urška Žigart, who reinjured her jaw in a crash over the weekend.)
Skjelmose and the worlds
“I don’t think I can give the national team what I should be able to give,” he said. “I love being part of the national team and have had some of the best experiences of my career there. But I also don’t think it’s fair to take a position from another Dane who is riding really well.”
National coach Michael Mørkøv subsequently confirmed that Anton Charmig will replace Skjelmose on the eight-rider Danish team, according to TV 2 Sport.
Although Magnus Cort is the national champion and had a fine ride at the Vuelta on some stages, he still didn’t make the cut. In fact, the final stage of the Vuelta was his last race as a pro. Before the stage, the peloton formed a guard of honour for him and a few other retiring riders.
Charmig, 28, has had a solid year, including a win on Stage 2 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
The elite men’s road race takes place on Sept. 27. The women’s is the day before. Canadian Cycling Magazine will be there the whole week with reports on all of the races. The first day of competition is Sept. 20. Be sure to check here, and all our other socials–our Instagram will be full of content, interviews and photos.