DISCUSSION | Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne & Faun Drome Classic 2026 - Brennan without beer because of Visma's strictness? Echelons, tension, Wellens and donkeys

Today we had on the road the second race of the Opening Weekend, Kuurne – Bruxelles – Kuurne, and also the second race in the Ardèche region, in southern France, the Faun Drome Classic 2026. After an action-packed opening day, today in Belgium was set to favour the sprinters, while in the neighbouring country the hilly profile of the race meant that several different scenarios could be expected at the finish line.

British rider Matthew Brennan claimed victory in the Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, in an edition marked by relentless wear, crosswinds and incidents that sidelined several pre-race favourites before the final showdown.

The race started intensely with a seven-man breakaway animating the early phase, but it was the crash and subsequent abandonment of Tim Wellens that truly altered the course of events, weakening UAE's strategy. On the Mont Saint Laurent, the peloton split, dropping riders like Arnaud De Lie, Jonathan Milan, and Dylan Groenewegen, while Paul Magnier punctured on the cobbles at the worst possible time.

The pace remained high over the Kluisberg, and in the final 35 kilometres, crosswinds led to abanicos that further trimmed the front group. Jasper Philipsen punctured too, but managed to rejoin the leaders, albeit with limited team support.

With no single decisive attack, the race was shaped by accumulated fatigue. Back in Kuurne, a late move stirred tension, but the group came back together before the line. In the reduced sprint, Brennan proved clearly the fastest, confirming that Kuurne can turn into a race of attrition, even when it ends in a sprint.

Romain Grégoire won the Faun Drome Classic 2026 in Étoile-sur-Rhône, outsprinting Matteo Jorgenson in a two-man finish after a demanding race shaped by repeated accelerations and a decisive move on the Mur d’Allex.

The rider of Groupama-FDJ covered the 189 kilometres alongside Jorgenson, with both credited with the same time. Lenny Martinez led the chasing group two seconds later, ahead of Quinten Hermans and Paul Lapeira.

The early breakaway was reeled in during the middle phase, and the race split apart inside the final 15 kilometres. On the Mur d’Allex, a steep 600-metre climb averaging 8.6 percent, Grégoire and Jorgenson attacked together and quickly opened a gap of around 25 seconds. Behind them, the chase lacked coordination and the advantage remained stable heading into the closing kilometres, with the peloton reduced to around 40 riders after tackling 17 climbs and more than 2,200 metres of elevation gain.

On the final ascent in Étoile-sur-Rhône, 1 kilometre at 5.6 percent, neither rider managed to drop the other. They entered the last kilometre together, and in the final sprint Grégoire proved the fresher and more explosive to seal the victory.

The race was marked by the crash of Tim Wellens, who suffered a heavy fall and will now have to undergo surgery. A tough blow for the Belgian of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, at a point in the season when he was looking to consolidate his racing rhythm. The images of the crash made it clear that it was no simple slip, it was one of those moments when a race changes in a split second and the asphalt shows no mercy.

But if there was drama, there was also spectacle. The crosswinds came into play and split the peloton into several echelons, spreading tension along the route. When the wind blows sideways and the road narrows, an organised chaos takes over, the kind that fascinates fans. Millimetric positioning, teams accelerating as a unit, riders fighting not to lose the right wheel. This is cycling in its rawest form. And, let’s be honest, when a race unfolds like that, it takes on an epic dimension.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike practically carried young Brennan to the final 100 metres. Impeccable collective work, absolute control of the pace and a clean lead-out. The youngster simply had to finish the job, without wasting unnecessary energy, beating the rivals with authority.

On the podium, the men of Tudor Pro Cycling Team toasted with the traditional beer, celebrating hours of effort under adverse conditions. A simple gesture, almost symbolic, part of cycling’s folklore. The young Visma rider, however, remained impassive, not even attempting a sip.

And that is where the reflection begins. Is the level of demand within the Dutch structure so high that not even a small moment of relaxation is allowed? In a sport where detail matters, where every gram, every watt and every hour of rest are meticulously controlled, the internal culture can become almost clinical.

Recently, we have seen some riders on the team taking extended breaks or even hanging up their bikes earlier than expected. Naturally, each case has its own context, but the question remains: to what extent can constant rigidity have negative consequences?

Modern cycling is science, data, nutrition measured to the milligram and recovery timed to perfection. But it is still human. It is still suffering, camaraderie and, yes, celebration too. A sip of beer on the podium will not change performance the following week, but it can represent a moment of release after so many hours working at the limit.

Next year, if necessary, and if any cyclist does not want to drink the beer, I volunteer to drink it. Because cycling is also made up of those little moments that remind us why we love this sport so much.

Unfortunately, I couldn't watch the Faun Drome Classic 2026 and will watch it on TV later, so I can't write anything about it.

But I can congratulate the podium finishers and Romain Gregoire. The lad was already showing promise and beat Matteo Jorgenson in a two-man sprint. Lenny Martinez finished third on the day, exactly the same result he achieved yesterday... this looks promising. Bring on the Italian White Roads next Saturday.

There was no room for folklore today in Kuurne, where locals are nicknamed donkeys, a King Donkey is crowned every year, and Donkey beer flows freely down thirsty throats.

Instead, the town became the stage for the rise of a major talent in the making: Britain’s Matthew Brennan.Thanks to superb work by his teammates, Brennan powered to a commanding sprint victory, leaving riders like Luca Mozzato and Jasper Philipsen trailing in his wake.

Visma’s dominance was clear for all to see: every one of Brennan’s teammates was still in the lead group and able to celebrate as they watched him surge to victory just ahead of them.Matteo Trentin’s friendly pat on Brennan’s backside spoke volumes about the Italian’s respect for the rider from Darlington.

Today, Brennan left the entire peloton behind as if they were donkeys. And in Kuurne, that feels perfectly fitting.