"They rode the perfect race" - Visma's perfect Vuelta a Espana plan praised as Johan Bruyneel breaks down Matthew Brennan's win
Cycling
Matthew Brennan pulled off his first Grand Tour victory on Sunday at the Vuelta a Espana on just his second stage, sealing an emphatic uphill sprint win as a Visma | Lease a Bike masterclass denied red jersey Tadej Pogacar.
Beginning with their control of the stage to ensure Ethan Hayter didn't take breakaway victory, Visma attacked with Wout van Aert on the steep section of the uphill finish while Christophe Laporte and Brennan waited in the wings.
As Tadej Pogacar chased onto van Aert's tail and the rest of the peloton ground their gap down to bike lengths, Laporte surged to the front as a lead-out man for the young British rider.
As the final meters converged, Mads Pedersen threatened to spoil the party, before Brennan found an extra gear to deny the Danish rider. Speaking about Visma's performance, Johan Bruyneel praised the team's perfect race.
Visma rode the perfect race to take victory
"But yeah, what to say about Visma, you know, Visma today was, I think they rode the perfect race," Bruyneel said on The Move Podcast.
"They had a plan A and a plan B. I mean, probably three plans, one of which didn't work because I think, I think, we're going to talk a little bit later about Ethan Hayter, but you know, they did not manage to get Ethan Hayter back from that breakaway to sprint for the bonuses and eventually tried to get in the red jersey for Van Aert."
Visma clearly had a two-pronged plan, and Bruyneel particularly underlined Laporte's role as he kept the pace high to not only keep Pogacar in check but also halt attacks from the rest of the bunch.
Tadej Pogacar chasing Wout Van Aert in the finale of stage 2 of the 2026 Vuelta a España
Van Aert always planned attack
"But yeah, Van Aert said clearly in his interview that the plan was for him to attack there at that point, which he did.
"And Pogacar went after him and then that didn't work out. And then the plan was to sprint for Matthew Brennan. Beautiful teamwork, by the way, by Christophe Laporte."
Already scoring their first stage victory, and with van Aert in strong form and Sepp Kuss targeting victory in the high mountains, the Dutch team could well be on the top podium once more.
He added: "That was a huge lead out for him. But I think Visma today was impressive. They rode the perfect race and they deservedly have the stage win."
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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