He can't be that untalented; managed to get third in the U23 World Championship Road Race in 2017, and second in the Elite National Championship in 2014 - between Michael Valgren and Michael Mørkøv, because apparently only Michaels were allowed on the podium that year...
Besides, maybe he wasn't hired for his talents - or lack of same - but to work.
But, yeah. Riis probably did have a hand in his signing, this weirdly unofficially official signing; official everywhere, except - it seems - on the team's webpage.