“Extending my contract with Lidl-Trek means everything to me,” said Mattias Skjelmose. “I’ve said it a lot of times before, and I’ll probably say it many more times in the future. This Team is my family, I find myself at home, and I couldn’t see myself riding anywhere else.
“It’s been a super special journey. When I came into the Team, Vincenzo Nibali was the big star here, and now with Lidl, Trek and other huge sponsors the project has become so much bigger. Growing with the Team is something really special – you never know what the future brings, but the fact that I came in at the time I did, and now it feels like the Team and me have grown together. The ambition has always been there, but it took a bit of time to reach where we wanted to be, and it’s super nice that I can continue this journey with the Team.
“The fact that our individual goals align with the team goals has always made us so powerful as a team. We haven’t always had the biggest budget, but we always got the most out of every rider, and that’s mainly because we always find the ability to work for each other and help each other over-perform, as well as just being able to have a real team feeling. I’ve never spoken with someone who wouldn’t want to join this Team, and that’s all down to our team spirit. We’re having fun all the time, no matter who we are with at the races. I could be rooming with any single one of them and I would have just as much fun. I haven’t been in other teams, but I’m pretty sure you don’t find this feeling in every team.
“I feel at home, I’ve never been a super social guy but this Team made it so much easier. I feel like I fit in in a whole new way. It’s difficult to leave home, but I was really looking forward to coming here to camp to see every single person, from riders to management to every single member of staff, we all have so much fun and we’re all equal, and that’s super special. I really enjoy the environment that nobody is above the rest.”
“Mattias has grown into one of the pillars of our Team,” said Luca Guercilena, Lidl-Trek General Manager. “He has shown he can perform at the highest level, whether in one-day races or across three weeks, and that versatility is incredibly important for us. Just as valuable is his mentality — he leads when required, but he is also willing to work for his teammates. Having Mattias committed for the coming seasons is key to our ambitions, and we’re excited to continue building with him as one of our leaders.”