Visma still unclear if Matthew Brennan fits into their 2027 Tour de plans alongside Vingegaard and Van Aert

Brennan broke through in 2025 with a string of victories, some of which came at the highest level. He continued that upward trajectory this year, with his first victory in a classic (Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne) and no fewer than five stage wins in his very first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España. He was the undisputed king of stage wins.

With performances like these, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to leave the 21-year-old sprinter out of the discussions surrounding the Tour de France.

And especially because of the Grand Départ: it will take place in the United Kingdom, with three flat stages. And the first stage, starting in Edinburgh, Scotland, will be an opportunity for the sprinters to claim the yellow jersey.

For Brennan, a true Brit, it would be incredibly special to win the yellow jersey on home soil. He had already mentioned it during the Vuelta, when he was racking up sprint victories one after another:

“I watched the first and second stages of the Tour, and the third is pretty tough, but there are definitely opportunities to do something that plays to my strengths,” he said.

But for Visma | Lease a Bike, the strategy remains the same: everything hinges on Vingegaard. The two-time Tour winner has tried time and again in recent years to beat Tadej Pogačar, without success (yet).

But even in 2027, the Dutch team seems intent on putting everyone at the service of its Danish leader. And then there’s always the Van Aert factor—with his versatility and experience, he’s always on the roster.

But it’s always okay to dream, as Brennan knows. “I’d really love to be on the starting line. I also understand that the best lineup has to align with the team’s ambitions, but I think that now that we’re successful as a team, I can contribute in various ways to help Jonas make even better use of his strengths and play his cards right.”

In the Vuelta a España, Brennan won five stages, but he also showed a willingness to work for his team. For example, he took the lead several times for Van Aert in an effort to help him win the stage.

He also did some work for team leader Kuss. So the sprinter will be hoping he made a good impression. “That’s something the team will discuss in the future, and no decision has been made yet, so we’ll see how it goes.”

That said, the 2027 Tour de France route doesn’t initially seem tailor-made for Vingegaard.

With only three mountain finishes, many stages in the low mountains, and two long time trials, it seems more like a route for Remco Evenepoel and Pogacar. And for the sprinters and attackers. In that case, is there room for Brennan?

Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge explained after the Vuelta how the process will unfold. “Let’s wait and see how the Tour goes,” he told CyclingNews.

“Let’s evaluate the situation and make plans for next year. Of course, he’s also part of our plans with Wout and Jonas, so as always, we’ll consult with the entire team over the coming weeks, and during our training camp, on media day, we’ll let you know.”

Media Day will take place on December 17, when the Dutch team heads to its first training camp in preparation for 2027. Plans for the season will be finalised then.