Visma reveal plans to fast track Matthew Brennan's development: “That was not on his schedule either"

After a stunning victory on the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya, Matthew Brennan is no longer just a promising name for the future, he’s very much a part of the present. The 19-year-old Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider has impressed so much that the team is now making significant adjustments to his race programme for the rest of the season.

Initially, Brennan was due to spend much of the year racing with the development squad in .2-level events, gaining experience and mileage at a steady pace. However, his explosive debut in the WorldTour has forced a rethink.

“We will probably only use him in WorldTour and ProSeries races from now on,” said Head of Development Robbert de Groot to Rouleur. “That was not on his schedule either. But because Jonas Vingegaard did not reach that race, we decided to test Matthew's level there. If you win the first stage straight away, then that went very well of course.”

The team is now looking to move the young Briton up the ladder much faster than anticipated. “Now we have said that we will no longer use a rider in .2 races, if he already has a WorldTour victory to his name and has also finished second twice. He will now ride the Tours of Romandie and Norway.”

While the team is understandably excited, there is also a note of caution. Brennan’s 2025 calendar is being developed carefully, balancing ambition with realistic development goals.

“We are still working with him on a trial-and-error basis,” De Groot continued. “Because what kind of results can we expect from Matthew in a race like Romandie? Can he also work as a domestique for other riders in certain races? That is the challenge for us to find out. But it is no secret that he is someone who can finish tough races.”

His rise has even caught the attention of Grischa Niermann, who highlighted Brennan’s maturity and potential beyond his years. “Certainly for someone who is 19 years old,” Niermann told Wielerflits. “But let me put it this way: in the future, we have someone with Matthew who we are going to enjoy a lot in these types of races.”

While the temptation to throw Brennan into a Grand Tour is surely there, the team is resisting it, for now. “In principle, we are sticking to his original plan with the Volta NXT Classic, a bit of rest and then Romandie. Don’t expect a Grand Tour this year either. But it is incredible what he showed in Catalunya straight away. He has a great future and we are very, very happy that he is riding with us.”