Skjelmose gains time on French favorite in team time trial

Danish cyclist Mattias Skjelmose gained a slight advantage in the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes, despite his Lidl-Trek team finishing fourth in the team time trial. The team was 13 seconds faster than Decathlon, which includes race favorite Paul Seixas.

Skjelmose shares team captain duties with Juan Ayuso, who is returning after a two-month break following a crash. Lidl-Trek initially led the time trial but was ultimately surpassed by Visma, Netcompany Ineos, and EF, who secured the top three positions.

Visma won the stage by nine seconds over Netcompany Ineos, while EF finished 29 seconds behind, allowing their French rider Alex Baudin to retain the yellow jersey. Baudin now leads by 12 seconds over Onley and Vauquelin, with Ayuso and Skjelmose in fifth and sixth place, 47 seconds adrift.

However, the team time trial is unlikely to be decisive in the overall standings. With five stages remaining, including significant mountain climbs, Paul Seixas has ample opportunity to leverage his favorite status and make up lost ground.