Brennan on cloud nine after Vuelta hattrick: 'I'm on a team full of champions'

Imagine being 21 years old and riding your first Grand Tour. Many riders would struggle with such a huge step, but not Matthew Brennan. He’s already won three stages in the Vuelta a España, including his third victory on Stage 11 to Lorca. The sprinter is unstoppable, and his chances don’t seem to be over yet. Where will this super-talented rider’s hunger for victory end?

Once again, Visma | Lease a Bike dominated the stage. The Dutch team took charge with top favorite Brennan and kept the Brit well positioned at the front on the stage’s only—but challenging—climb in the final stretch. In the final kilometers, Christophe Laporte and Wout van Aert set up their team leader perfectly, who then finished the stage in commanding fashion.

"We took the initiative again today," Brennan says in the flash interview. "The guys worked as hard as they could. Even after a tough day like yesterday, we still went full throttle. In the final, we held our own, and we were all strong enough to get where we wanted to be. In those last ten kilometers, they did a perfect job of keeping me out of trouble. I crossed the finish line first, so I’m really happy,” he laughs.

With at least two more chances ahead (and perhaps even more, thanks to his excellent climbing ability), Brennan still has some great opportunities in store, but he’s already racked up a very special statistic. The last rider to win three stages in a Grand Tour on his debut? That was Tadej Pogačar, who also claimed three victories in the 2019 Vuelta a España.

For Brennan, it’s special, but even more special is the support from his team. “It’s huge. I’m on a team full of champions—guys who’ve stood on the podium at a Grand Tour, and one of them has even won one. They’ve also won major classics. The fact that they’re riding for me is an amazing opportunity. I’m so grateful that they’re giving it their all for me.”