The Matthew Brennan Threat

[Netserk]

He should be riding Bretagne on Sunday, he would be a favorite.

Yes, Bretagne and Tours are the two races left for him that he can win.

 

[Netserk]

Not just WVA but also Vingegaard. Soudal will be a classics team again and will stage hunting stages in GTs. Magnier is not on his level IMO. Merlier is 34 next year.

If Van Aert can ride the Tour selfishly, why not Brennan too in a few years?

 

[Berniece]

Magnier and Merlier takes more opportunities from him than Van Aert does.

Not to mention Visma doesn't have any problems with multiple leaders in single day races

 

[Peyroteo94]

If Van Aert can ride the Tour selfishly, why not Brennan too in a few years?

IMO, Soudal is a team more suited to Brennan. Brennan will not have a team around him in Visma. In Soudal, he can. Both in classics and the Tour.

 

[Netserk]

IMO, Soudal is a team more suited to Brennan. Brennan will not have a team around him in Visma. In Soudal, he can. Both in classics and the Tour.

Since 2022 I rate the classics team of Visma way ahead of QS. Also after the new transfers. And as Van Aert doesn't like to sprint anymore, Brennan already has first dibs on one of the roles in half the cobbles classics.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Since 2022 I rate the classics team of Visma way ahead of QS. Also after the new transfers. And as Van Aert doesn't like to sprint anymore, Brennan already has first dibs on one of the roles in half the cobbles classics.

Let’s agree to disagree.

 

[Netserk]

Let’s agree to disagree.

We agree that QS have been really bad the past two years in cobbled classics?

Do you think they can make a move like Visma did in Dwars next year?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

If Van Aert can ride the Tour selfishly, why not Brennan too in a few years?

While i agree on your other points, this is a bit different. Do you assume Brennan can do what Van Aert can? Be a superdomestique in the mountains? A personal bodyguard on the classic stages? The main engine in the TTT's?

 

[Netserk]

While i agree on your other points, this is a bit different. Do you assume Brennan can do what Van Aert can? Be a superdomestique in the mountains? A personal bodyguard on the classic stages? The main engine in the TTT's?

Van Aert's single biggest contribution in the mountains over the past two years was on the false flat of Ventoux. It's no longer the 2020-2023 Van Aert we're talking about.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Visma are still the best team for him, right now. They're developing him brilliantly, he'll get plenty of chances at big races, and good support there too.

I'd be surprised if some others, Ineos particularly, weren't sniffing around though. I hope Visma are now paying him what he's worth.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Brennan is a much different rider than WVA though. He's small, which matters quite a bit when you need to take wind, and most likely doesn't have the motor that Wout has. And definitely not the recuperation he has in stage races nor the versatility in every terrain.

But if he keeps doing this, of course you bring him, but you want him to ride a GT next year IMO first. Preferably a GT Jonas doesnt ride, so Tour in 2027 makes sense. Some riders are just too good to leave out, and Brennan might be one of those. Most likely wont receive the Kooij treatment, especially now that Laporte and WVA are getting older.

 

[tobydawq]

Yes, Bretagne and Tours are the two races left for him that he can win.

Québec?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I hope Visma are now paying him what he's worth.

You have to assume that they are working to break open his contract and greatly increase his salary. If not, they should be expecting an attempt to buy out his contract given how much of a wild west cycling transfers are right now.

 

[Red Rick]

You have to assume that they are working to break open his contract and greatly increase his salary. If not, they should be expecting an attempt to buy out his contract given how much of a wild west cycling transfers are right now.

They should have a chunk of money getting out of the cage with Kooij leaving. Now if someone starts splashing and offers 2M+ from the get go, then it starts being complicated.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

They should have a chunk of money getting out of the cage with Kooij leaving. Now if someone starts splashing and offers 2M+ from the get go, then it starts being complicated.

In a world where Lenny Martinez earns 3M, 2M for Brennan is almost a lowball offer.

 

[Red Rick]

In a world where Lenny Martinez earns 3M, 2M for Brennan is almost a lowball offer.

Tbh I'm not super up to date on rider wages, but I also don't really like using the outliers for big overpayment as a referencing point. But you're probably right that 2M for Brennan doesn't even seem that high.

Van Aert is on 4M and he doesn't get you more results, apart from his value as a domestique, which this year was essentially only in the Giro, and I'd rather keep Brennan than the likes of Van Baarle, Laporte and Benoot together.

 

[pastronef]

In a world where Lenny Martinez earns 3M, 2M for Brennan is almost a lowball offer.

isn't Martinez's 3M the total for his 3 years contract?

 

[SafeBet]

isn't Martinez's 3M the total for his 3 years contract?

It was reported as a 2,5 / 3M contract in total, so yeah should be around 800k / 1M per year as far as I know.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

If I was offering 2 contracts right now, only Pogi, Jonas, MvdP, Remco would deffo be worth more of my cash, IMO, given his wins, age, talent and trajectory. Probs Mads too, maybe Almeida. Certainly a multi-million € contract rider now.