"He reminds me of him, but even a bit faster" - Visma's Matthew Brennan compared to one of cycling's greatest ever riders in high praise
CyclingThursday, 10 September 2026 at 10:39
Matthew Brennan's electric Vuelta a Espana has seen Visma re-find their spark. At the Spanish Grand Tour, Brennan and Wout van Aert have run riot as they took seven stages of 17 so far, with the young British rider taking five of those wins.
The youngest-ever rider to reach five Grand Tour stage wins, Brennan has demonstrated his versatility that made his stick out in the last two classics seasons as well as an undeniable turn of pace in bunch sprints to form a lethal combination.
With Van Aert's presence adding another edge to their sword, Visma have masterfully played their two cards well in the majority of sprints and hilly stages to serve up a victory. However, it's Brennan that ultimately got the job done in his five wins, and has been likened to one of cycling's greatest-ever riders - Peter Sagan.
"It's like he's snatching candy from a bunch of toddlers," Analyst Thijs Zonneveld said on the podcast In de Waaier.
Matthew Brennan at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Brennan compared to Peter Sagan
"He reminds me of him, but even a bit faster. Especially of Sagan's early years, because he was also so good uphill and could keep up for so long. He also broke through like a comet back then."
Van Aert has often worked in service of Brennan at the race, while also using his profile and skills to help him and the team. But looking back on the Sagan comparison, Zonneveld points to his ability to do the business in multiple scenarios as a big indicator we have the next Sagan on our hands.
"Of the two Van Aert won, Brennan could have won one as well. That doesn't detract from Van Aert, because he also rides himself into the ground for Brennan. But he creates so many opportunities for himself because he gets into a sprinting position so often.
Will Brennan ride the 2027 Tour de France?
"If you looked at sprint chances beforehand, you would come up with four or five. He has already won five. He waits for a sprint, but certainly in a tough finale, he can finish it off in a hundred other ways. Just like Sagan."
Brennan's future is certainly an exciting one, and after indicating that he could ride the Tour de France next year, it's worth noting that the Grand Depart will be in his home country. Zonneveld ponders whether the classics or mass sprints will be his focus going forward.
"He already dropped a hint earlier this week that he will probably go to the Tour de France next year. He can become a pure mass sprinter, he can focus on mass sprints and the more explosive work like Sagan, or he can focus entirely on the classics. He can win Milan-San Remo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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