Brennan gives Visma | Lease a Bike positive report, with a bit of constructive criticism

The sprint ace for Visma | Lease a Bike was the top favourite to win the stage, especially because the local circuit around Tanunda included three short climbs that suited him perfectly. The team chased down a three-man breakaway and, with six kilometres to go, everyone knew it would come down to a sprint.

Brennan was in the mix in that sprint, but despite a good lead-out he just came up short against Lund Andresen, the young Dane from Decathlon CMA CGM. Welsford, who has won many stages in his home race over the years, was narrowly beaten in the photo finish for third.

“We rode a good race as a team today,” Brennan analysed after his second place. “We controlled the whole stage and were well positioned in the final kilometres. In the last kilometre we perhaps chose the wrong line, but overall we should be happy with our performances. The feeling is good.”

The same analysis followed at Cyclingnews: “I think we ended up on the wrong side of the road, there was one moment of hesitation with us. As a team we’re a bit disappointed, because we knew we could win. But with this new group we did well. There are some things we need to work on, but they were there for me all day.”

“We did a lot of work,” he continued about the responsibility that Visma | Lease a Bike took on throughout the race. “We’re very aware of where we need to improve and we have confidence that we can fix that. Hopefully we get another chance and can really show ourselves.”

That mindset is good, because Brennan still has several chances for success during the Australian week. Although the organisation has made the race slightly harder than other years, Brennan should still be able to compete for victory in at least two or even three more stages. Thursday already looks crucial, with a 3.6-kilometre climb at almost 7 percent to survive.

“Tomorrow is going to be a really tough day,” Brennan therefore also acknowledges. In 2025 as a neo-pro he repeatedly showed that he can handle such efforts — not for nothing did he already win twelve races in his first year as a pro. “Hopefully I can be in the finale again. And there are still several chances later this week that I’m really looking forward to.”