Skjelmose Finds Safety in Vingegaard's Wheel During Tour de France Sprints

Danish cyclist Mattias Skjelmose has developed a unique strategy to navigate the perilous sprint finishes of the Tour de France, prioritizing safety and maintaining his position in the general classification.

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I've gotten into a good habit of finding Jonas's wheel in the finals. I'm looking right at his backside, and he's looking at Affini's backside, so we don't see much of what's happening ahead.

Skjelmose has adopted the tactic of riding directly behind his team leader, Jonas Vingegaard. "I've gotten into a good habit of finding Jonas's wheel in the finals," Skjelmose explained. "I'm looking right at his backside, and he's looking at Affini's backside, so we don't see much of what's happening ahead."

This positioning allows Skjelmose to benefit from Vingegaard's slipstream, shielding him from the unpredictable surges and potential crashes common in mass sprints. He feels secure knowing that Vingegaard's powerful Visma team works to protect their leader. "Jonas does it very smartly, and when you have a man like Affini in front, the others have to ride very fast if they are to create a gap that he cannot close," Skjelmose noted.

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Jonas does it very smartly, and when you have a man like Affini in front, the others have to ride very fast if they are to create a gap that he cannot close.

Currently sitting eighth overall, five minutes and 45 seconds behind leader Tadej Pogacar, Skjelmose is confident that his strategy will prevent him from losing valuable time. "So I am quite sure that if I sit there, I will avoid losing time – unless everyone else does too," he stated, acknowledging the collective nature of the peloton's dynamics.

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So I am quite sure that if I sit there, I will avoid losing time - unless everyone else does too.