"No, I’m not boring" - Brennan talks about the reason why he didn’t drink a single sip of beer in Kuurne

This weekend marked the start of the first Spring Classics on the road, with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and Kuurne – Bruxelles – Kuurne on Sunday, two races that traditionally open the cobbled season.

After a long and demanding day of around 195 kilometres, the race finishing in Kuurne delivered virtually all the typical ingredients of this phase of the calendar: crashes, strong crosswinds causing echelons, punctures and constant tension in the run-in to the decisive sectors. It was an intense, nervous and selective edition in which every moment had the potential to shape the outcome.

With a start list packed with sprinters and riders capable of animating the race if it split apart, several scenarios were on the table.

A bunch sprint was possible, but so too was a reduced-group finish after wind-induced splits. The puzzle could prove simple or complex, everything depended on the teams’ tactical reading, the form on display and the ability to anticipate key moments.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike were among the most active formations. Always alert when splits appeared in the peloton, they kept Christophe Laporte and Matthew Brennan well positioned at the front of the race. In the finale, they executed an effective lead-out that launched Brennan into the decisive sprint. The young Brit only had to accelerate in the final 100 metres to open a clear gap and seal an emphatic victory.

On the podium, Brennan was joined by two riders from Tudor Pro Cycling Team: Luca Mozzato, who turned 28 on February 15, and Matteo Trentin, the most experienced of the trio at 36.

Once the usual rituals were completed, with the presentation of the traditional flower bouquets and the symbolic donkey awarded to the winner, it was time for beer, a deeply rooted tradition in Belgian races. Mozzato and Trentin received a standard glass, while Brennan was handed a large beer goblet reserved for the winner.

Taking a sip is part of the protocol. The Italians followed tradition without hesitation, but Brennan merely looked at his fellow podium finishers. On social media and among some analysts, speculation began to circulate about possible rigidity within the Dutch setup, suggesting the rider might have been advised not to drink.

The response came quickly. Speaking to Cycling Pro Net, Brennan clarified the situation: “No, I’m not boring. I’m celiac, so I can’t have gluten. And if I had that, then the season would be over for me. Which, yes, is a shame, because it’s always part of the moment. But unfortunately, I’d like to try to win more bike races this year.”

The victory at Kuurne – Bruxelles – Kuurne came just one day after the Brit had been involved in a crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, adding an extra challenge to his recovery, already conditioned by a strict diet. “Yesterday I crashed quite hard,” he said. “I came to the start line today quite nervous about what was going to happen.”

Brennan does not hide his clear ambitions for the major Spring Classics. “That’s the ambition and that’s the development path we’d like to follow,” he said about his progression in the cobbled races.

The Classics campaign spans different regions, organisers and countries, and each race day brings new risks, including extra care regarding nutrition. The Brit was keen to highlight the role of the team structure in his growth, stressing that “they create the environment that I can use to build that.”

On a weekend that officially launched the Classics season, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne delivered more than just a winner. It confirmed Brennan’s emerging talent and underlined the collective strength of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.