British teenager Matthew Brennan stuns on debut at Paris-Roubaix: “It was quite emotional going through there”
Cycling
At just 19 years old, Matthew Brennan produced a sensational
ride on his Paris-Roubaix debut, impressing throughout in one of cycling’s most iconic
and brutal races.
The British prospect, riding for Team Visma | Lease a Bike,
held his own against the best in the world over the punishing cobblestones of
northern France, and admitted it all felt a bit surreal.
“Yeah I think it was… when you're there with like 20 guys
who are the world's best bike riders you start to think like how have I ended
up here,” he said after the finish to Cycling Pro Net. “But yeah I did what I
could.”
Brennan was even given the green light to ride for his own
result after teammate Wout van Aert, one of the pre-race favourites, began to
struggle mid-race.
“Wout at the time wasn't feeling the best and he told me to
kind of go for my own opportunity. He started to put a bit of work for me which
I… you know when Wout van Aert starts working for you it's like oh.”
Despite the dream scenario, Brennan eventually ran out of
energy in the final stages.
“It was… unfortunately I kind of ran out of bullets. You
know, still being young you don't necessarily have the capacity to go past,
yeah, 210, 220k and then yeah, you just blow up unfortunately. But yeah I
really enjoyed it.”
The atmosphere of Roubaix’s legendary cobbled sectors left a
lasting impression on the youngster, with the roar of the crowds and the
adrenaline of the race making it a truly unique experience.
“It was awesome… it was quite emotional going through
there,” Brennan said. “Like when there's hundreds of people shouting your name
and yeah, it's unbelievable, nothing like it.”
On the technical side, Brennan also gave insight into the
tyre pressure system Visma Lease a Bike used, which allowed him to adapt to
both road and cobbled conditions on the fly.
“I think on the road sections especially earlier on was a
big benefit,” he explained. “You're not riding on a pressure that you want to
use on the cobbles. And then when you hit the cobbles it's so much smoother,
the ride is really comfortable. And then I think you have a lot more grip,
especially in the corners and stuff… those are little bullets that you have to
spend and I think it's quite a nice system.”
So, will we see him take on the Hell of the North again next
year?
“Absolutely,” Brennan smiled.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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