“He is kind of a young Wout really, isn’t he?” - Matthew Brennan’s fearless Vuelta racing draws Wout van Aert comparison
Cycling
Matthew Brennan's three stage victories have already made him one of the revelations of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana, but former British professional Matt Stephens believes the 21-year-old is now revealing another side to his racing that brings teammate Wout van Aert to mind.
Brennan added no fourth victory to his tally on Stage 13. Instead, he played a decisive supporting role as Team Visma | Lease a Bike finally delivered Van Aert's first win of this Vuelta in Loja.
The Brit made the enormous early breakaway, survived into the decisive nine-rider selection and then repeatedly helped shut down attacks once Van Aert had bridged across. His teammate eventually escaped with Valentin Paret-Peintre before winning the two-man sprint.
Watching on TNT Sports' The Breakaway, Stephens felt the performance revealed something beyond the finishing ability Brennan had already demonstrated with his three victories.
“There’s a completely new dimension now”
“We thought we’d learned a little bit about Matt Brennan from him winning those three stages, but I think there’s a completely new dimension now,” Stephens said. “We thought it was coming, but the way that he’s ridden, he is kind of a young Wout really, isn’t he? And I think Wout can appreciate that.”
Stage 13 provided plenty of evidence for the comparison. Brennan did not simply sit in the front group waiting for a possible sprint. Once Visma had two riders in the decisive selection, he took responsibility for chasing attacks from the likes of Leo Bisiaux and Simon Dalby, allowing Van Aert to conserve himself for the move that eventually decided the stage.
It continued a Vuelta in which Brennan's role has changed repeatedly according to the demands of the race. His own three victories have showcased his finishing speed, while other days have seen him work for Van Aert and become involved in much less controlled racing.
Van Aert took the win on Stage 13
Racing with “real freedom”
For Stephens, it is that willingness to throw himself into difficult stages without losing his tactical judgement that particularly strengthens the comparison with Van Aert. “The fact that he likes getting stuck in on these road stages and racing with real freedom, but while still being intelligent, I think it’s wonderful to see unfold,” he said.
Brennan's work in Loja ultimately left Van Aert free to attack with around 3.5 kilometres remaining. Paret-Peintre was the only rider capable of following, and the Belgian comfortably came around the Frenchman in the sprint for the line.
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The result also continued the give-and-take between Visma's two versatile fast men during this Vuelta. Brennan had already sacrificed himself for Van Aert on Stage 10 before Van Aert helped his younger teammate towards another victory the following day.
Stephens was delighted to see that support repaid with Van Aert finally taking a stage of his own. “But I couldn’t be happier for him, the team and, importantly, for Wout,” he said. “I mean, who isn’t a fan of Wout?”
Brennan still crossed the line third in Loja, but it was the manner in which he helped create Van Aert's winning opportunity, rather than another result of his own, that prompted Stephens to draw perhaps the most eye-catching comparison of his breakthrough Vuelta.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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