Skjelmose continues to improve after an impressive climb on Cuitu Negru
Lidl-Trek heads into the second rest day with momentum after GC hopeful Mattias Skjelmose produced another well-measured effort on Stage 15, finishing 6th on the stage, and 3rd from the GC group, five seconds behind Enric Mas and Primož Roglič.
After a difficult end to the first week of racing, Mattias has been slowly but surely riding his way back up the general classification, thanks to the support of his Lidl-Trek teammates and his well-paced efforts on the Vuelta’s brutal climbs.
On the final climb the guys brought me in position and supported me as well as they could, bringing me food and drinks and keeping me out of the wind, especially at the start of the stage where there was a split in the peloton and I was in the second part. Otto and Vacek did a great job to close the gap. On the last climb, I knew that going too deep on a high altitude climb would mean you pay, so I kept my own rhythm, no panic, and I think it worked out for me in the end.
With six stages remaining, Mattias has broken through to the top ten, however only eighteen seconds separate the Dane and 6th placed Carlos Rodriguez, the current White Jersey. After a rest day on Monday, during which the Lidl-Trek riders will make a quick visit at the Lidl store in Aviles, racing resumes with another infamous Vuelta finish – Lagos de Covadonga, the first test of a brutal final week which culminates with a time trial in Madrid.
I’m happy, I’m confident for the last week. In the last two Grand Tours I did the third week was the best for me, so if I keep like this I’ll be really really happy. First I’ll enjoy a really good rest day and we’ll see what the next week brings. I think me and the whole team are super motivated to continue moving up the GC.
