Skjelmose’s strong climb helps Vacek to another podium finish at the Vuelta
Lidl-Trek made their presence felt again at the Vuelta a España, with Mathias Vacek delivering a strong performance to secure his second second place of the race. The Czech rider showed his resilience and sprinting ability after a grueling day in the Spanish heat, finishing just behind Wout van Aert. Stage 7, featuring a tough 14% climb towards the end of the race, was another grueling day for the peloton, made even more difficult by the sweltering conditions. Vacek has continued to impress with his versatility and endurance in his Grand Tour debut.
Looking back on the race, Vacek said: “The climb was super hard. I fought. I knew that if I got over it, I could have a good sprint to the finish with a small group.” And that’s what he did. Thanks to the support of his teammate Mattias Skjelmose, Vacek was perfectly positioned for the finale and put in a brave effort in the sprint to take second place.
Second place behind a guy like Van Aert is pretty nice for me and I’m really happy.
Skjelmose, our candidate for the general classification, played a crucial role in preparing Vacek for the final sprint. The Danish rider handled the first seven stages well and felt particularly strong on today’s stage. “These are definitely the best legs I’ve had during the whole Vuelta, so I’m happy,” said Skjelmose, reflecting on his own performance on the tough climb. His efforts to position Vacek perfectly in the lead-up to the sprint were a testament to his character. “After all the work Mathias has done on the other days, it’s a small thing to give something back.”
As the peloton crested the climb, Vacek managed to maintain a small lead over the peloton. “We came back right after the descent and I relaxed a bit. Then Mattias Skjelmose put me in the perfect position behind Van Aert.”
Vacek’s two podiums in the first week of his Grand Tour debut, combined with Skjelmose’s solid form, bode well for us as we look ahead to the stages ahead. “The preparation for the Vuelta has been long and so far it’s going well. There are still many more stages to come,” said Vacek, remaining optimistic and focused on the rest of the race.
With two podium places in the bag, we turn our attention to the next two hilly stages, which offer excellent opportunities to chase a stage win and make progress in the overall standings.
