"Everything was under control": Matthew Brennan takes Vuelta a Burgos opener as Visma stamp authority on stage 1
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 23:00
Team Visma | Lease a Bike could hardly have asked for a better start to the Vuelta a Burgos. Matthew Brennan sprinted to victory on the opening stage after a textbook team performance, with Ben Tulett completing a one-two finish as the Dutch squad stamped its authority on the race from day one.
Visma executes the perfect plan
Stage 1 finished with the explosive climb to Alto del Castillo, where the final 900 metres averaged nearly seven percent and offered opportunities for sprinters, puncheurs and climbers alike.
After an early breakaway featuring Javier Ibañez, Josh Burnett, Valentin Ferron and Unai Aznar, Team Visma | Lease a Bike took responsibility in the peloton, alongside Lidl-Trek, to ensure the escape never gained too much ground.
The final attackers were only caught inside the last kilometre before the technical uphill finish. Marc Brustenga briefly opened a gap after the final corner, but Visma remained composed as Ben Tulett delivered Brennan perfectly into position.
The British sprinter launched his effort in the final straight to take the stage victory, while Tulett held on for second place to complete a dominant one-two finish.
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Great teamwork from Visma
After securing his sixth victory of the season, Brennan praised the work of his teammates throughout the day. The 20-year-old credited the team's control from start to finish. “The guys rode really well for me today. Steven controlled the race all day, which was great to see. It gave me the confidence that we could finish it of,” he said in a team statement.
He also highlighted Tulett's lead-out on the decisive climb. “In the finale, Ben was in front of me and he kept the pace high. Everything was under control. After the final corner, I went full gas and I'm really happy that it worked out. All the guys were very happy. It was a really nice team effort.”
Matthew Brennan at Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026
The victory comes just weeks before Brennan is expected to line up at the Vuelta a España, and he believes the result is an encouraging sign ahead of the season's final Grand Tour.
Looking ahead, the Brit admitted the win reinforces his confidence on uphill finishes. “This gives me a lot of confidence for the Vuelta and shows that I can do things on hard finishes like this.”
Sports director Maarten Wynants was equally impressed with how the team managed the stage. Explaining the race strategy, he acknowledged Visma entered the day knowing the responsibility would fall on them.
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“We were the favourites today and that proved to be the case. All the teams were looking at us, and it was up to us to control the breakaway.”
When the race reached its decisive moments, Wynants felt his riders delivered exactly as planned. “In the end, the guys finished it off perfectly. It was a hectic finale where positioning was really important, just like having good legs. A very nice one-two today.”
Thanks to his victory, Brennan will start stage 2 wearing the leader's jersey, with Visma already firmly in control of the general classification after one day of racing.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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