Mattias Skjlmose won the classic Amstel Gold Race. What is his story?
BRATISLAVA. He is a fan of Formula 1, he still carries a chain from his mother on her neck and is one of the cyclists who are fighting for the top five on the Grand Tour.
Behind the level of Tadej Pogačar or Remc Evenepoel, he is lagging behind on a three -week race, but he unexpectedly overcame on Sunday of his star rivals.
Dan Mattias Skjlmose won the classic Amstel Gold Race, when he ended the world champion and double Olympic winner from Paris. It was very tight, his triumph had to confirm the target photo.
« It was a beautiful race. I didn’t want to sprint from the first position, I kept behind Remcom, but Mattias was the fastest of us. For me, the finish line was five meters further than I needed, » Pogačar said.
Was on the limit, begged the opponent
The triple winner of the Tour de France 47 km before the finish responded to Julian Alaphilipp, but he has been riding his forehead from the next climb.
It seemed to be decided by the winner, as Pogačar often does not play in similar situations. This time, however, he did not have his best day, often looked for himself and 8 km before the finish was caught.
Video: Equest from Amstel Gold Race 2025 races
When the final sprint occurred, Skjlmose was a third place candidate. However, it was again confirmed that the sprint after such a demanding classic with intensive rivalry is treacherous and also brings surprises.
Dan’s victory imitated compatriot Kasper Asgreen, who unexpectedly overcame in the final of the race around Flemish 2021 Mathieu van der Poel.
« I have no idea as I won. The last 15 km I was on the limit, I wanted the stage and therefore I begged the remino to pull the pace in the ascents. If he attacked, I wouldn’t keep it, » the Danish representative admitted.
« Mattias is an incredible guy who is one hundred percent devoted to his profession. I think everyone in the peloton gave him this victory, » said his teammate Thibau Nys.
Skjlmose was not one of the main favorites of the race and the course for his victory was also 50: 1. However, in the current dominance of Pogačar or Van der Poel, it is a whiff of fresh air from the point of view of the commentator Josa de Cauwer.
« He’s a world -class cyclist, a very good boy and a warrior. It wasn’t easy and not everyone knows what he went from amateur times to signing a contract with a trek, » said Eurosport Expert Andreas Mielke last year.
Video: Mattias Skjlmose and its victory around Switzerland 2023
Not only a sports career, but also the life of Mattias Skjlmose is a kind of roller coaster. As a child, an extra -pound introvert, who did not have many friends and did not excel in the skills on the bike.
When he was eleven, he started training to the local club Amager cycle Ring. It was very important for him that the club did not matter where you came from, but how you were working on yourself.
« People did not burn their nose when your parents didn’t have the money and you didn’t have the most expensive equipment. I walked on an old bike and no one looked at me. The cycling has always been a therapy for me, » she recalls.
When he was 15, he won his first race. However, he did not see the half -Father: « He couldn’t believe it. In his eyes I was still a small fat child and not a future professional cyclist. »
Skjlmose: I drove like a bully
About ten years ago, few would say that young Matthias would be a candidate for the top 10 overall Grand Tours.
Gradually, however, improved. It was also because he doubled training units. In his last junior year he began to win a lot, which was also reflected in the change of his personality.
« I became a man who wasn’t very pleasant. I behaved arrogantly and haughty. I mocked others and drove like a bully.
Everything belonged to me. They could say I was a bad person, but I didn’t care because they couldn’t say I wasn’t the best, « Skjlmose said in his confession for the British cycling magazine Rouleur.
In 2018 and 2019, however, he got two hard wounds from his life, which returned him to the ground. First of all, they suddenly signed up for the word doping commissioners.
