If it’s up to Mathias Vacek, he will start the Tour de France for the first time next year. In an interview with the Czech Livesport, the 23-year-old rider from Lidl-Trek doesn’t hide his ambitions.
Vacek hopes to do this alongside his teammate and leader Mads Pedersen, who was left out of this year’s Tour de France squad. "Next season I will be Mads's main helper. I will mainly ride the spring classics with him, and then of course there’s the Tour. If everything goes according to plan, my dream of participating in the Tour could become reality."
Still, Vacek keeps a cautious outlook. "It depends on various factors: who the team will designate as leader, how many riders this leader will need, and what else the team has planned. Normally, that leaves two or three spots remaining. While there may be as many as fifteen riders competing for those places. That will be a huge battle," the versatile Czech expects. "But I do believe it will work out."
After an excellent 2025, Vacek is bursting with confidence. "I think this year was decisive. I really made a big step forward. I have shown that I can perform over an entire season, that I’m capable of maintaining a good form without major fluctuations. I’ve also proven that I’m very loyal to my teammates and leaders. Who knows, that might pay off in the future."
Pogacar, with Pedersen on his wheel – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
About Tadej Pogacar
Whether Vacek will debut in the Tour in 2026 is yet to be seen, but he will definitely be present in the spring if his leader Pedersen takes on the two best classics riders currently: Mathieu van der Poel and world champion Tadej Pogačar.
The big question is: how do you beat the almost unbeatable Pogacar? "The chance is small," Vacek admits. "He also has an incredibly strong team behind him. What he shows is truly incredible. He races, enjoys, and wins. It’s great to watch him; I’m really a fan. But in the classics, Mads, Van der Poel, and Wout van Aert certainly have a shot."
