Matthew Brennan marked a significant milestone in his career on Thursday, securing his first professional win at the prestigious GP de Denain. The 19-year-old British cyclist, racing for the Visma-Lease a Bike team, outpaced a breakaway group of eight riders to claim victory in the one-day classic, continuing a standout start to his season.
Brennan’s win came just months after his impressive WorldTour debut, where he finished second, followed by two victories with his team’s development squad. This triumph at the GP de Denain is his first professional win since stepping up to the WorldTour ranks in January. Reflecting on his early season success, Brennan described it as “perfect.”
“You couldn’t wish for a better season, to be honest. I’m really happy,” he said after the race in Denain.
The GP de Denain, a historic event held in northern France, has seen past winners such as Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen. Known for its challenging cobbled sectors, this year’s race covered 197.4 km, including 13 cobbled stretches totaling nearly 24 km. Brennan’s victory came after a grueling race, where positioning was key.
“It’s really nice to win here. It’s something we really aimed for as a team, and I’m really thankful for the work they did today,” Brennan said. “It was tough for positioning, but once you were there, it was alright. You get into a rhythm, and then you look back, and it’s just one line.”
The 13 cobbled sectors all appeared in the second half of the race, with Brennan’s breakaway group forming about 50 km from the finish. “It was a big group, and I knew quite a few of the guys wanted to attack. It was hard to manage, but we stuck together,” he explained. “Coming into the finish, I knew I had a faster sprint than most of the guys, which gave me confidence heading into the final.”
Brennan sprinted to victory, leaving former gravel world champion Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in second place, while Dries De Bondt (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) took third. Despite being one of the youngest riders in the field, Brennan’s confidence in his sprinting ability proved pivotal.
The teenager, who joined Visma-Lease a Bike’s development squad last season after progressing through the UK-based Fensham Howes-MAS Design junior team, made his WorldTour debut earlier this year. He finished second in the bunch sprint on the opening stage of the Santos Tour Down Under, further solidifying his potential as a rising star.
“We still don’t know exactly what kind of rider I am, which is exciting,” Brennan said in January. “I’ve got a good range of strengths, and sprinting is currently standing out. We’ll see where it takes me, but the coaches are excited to see what I turn into.”
In addition to his road racing success, Brennan has also proven himself on the track, winning two world titles at the 2023 UCI Junior Track World Championships.
With his first pro win now under his belt, Brennan’s future in cycling looks bright, and his development within the WorldTour team will be closely watched as the season progresses.
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