In the Rund um Köln race, starting and finishing in Cologne, eight riders broke away from the peloton, establishing a lead of up to six minutes. Team Visma | Lease a Bike played a pivotal role in reducing this advantage. Brennan, who is set to join Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s WorldTour team next season, demonstrated an aggressive approach and managed to create a gap from the peloton.
Brennan, along with two companions, worked efficiently to build a one-minute lead. However, the peloton caught up to them twelve kilometers from the finish, setting the stage for the sprinters’ teams to prepare for a bunch sprint. In the final kilometer, both Brennan and Van Belle were strategically positioned but found themselves boxed in on the right side of the road. Casper van Uden ultimately sprinted to victory.
“I’m Super Happy with the Way They Rode. I Can’t Blame the Boys for Anything.”
Robert Wagner
“I witnessed a very strong and active team in action. I can only be very satisfied with that,” said sports director Robert Wagner. “We were where we needed to be, but the situation with Matthew in the break wasn’t ideal. He is our strongest sprinter, and when he made it to the front, we hoped other riders would join him. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”
In the final sprint, Julien Vermote and Tosh Van der Sande executed a perfect lead-out, positioning Brennan and Van Belle at the front. Despite their efforts, the young riders couldn’t contest for the win. “I can’t blame the boys for anything. They all showed commitment and did their best. I’m super happy with the way they rode,” Wagner reiterated.