The Matthew Brennan Threat

[ChewbaccaDefense]

On the topic of the thread. Visma said they pulled him because he's young and essentially, they want to protect him and keep him from burning out. The kid is on a win streak, so I want to see him more. Of course, they are the professionals, and they know the sport much better than I, but it still seems strange to cut his legs out when he's in stride. I think he takes Simmons today, with ease.

 

[theyoungest]

the sole highlight of Visma's season. Oh and Ben Tullett

Winning Paris-Nice doesn't mean anything anymore?

 

[theyoungest]

Then we disagree...you seem to love for me to be wrong, so here's to wishing you all the luck in the world in that pursuit. It really isn't a big deal to me.

And if Kooij becomes someting I don't think he will, then that's awesome. I never begrudge someone becoming the best they can be. I've got nothing against the guy, nor you.

Lets see how Kooij does tomorrow.

It's clear you're not very impressed with him. Personally I think he's doing remarkably well on a team that doesn't really offer a sprinter many opportunities. It's because he's so good that he actually still gets his wins. I don't know where he goes from here, but like I said, Philipsen wasn't better than this at his age.

On the topic of the thread. Visma said they pulled him because he's young and essentially, they want to protect him and keep him from burning out. The kid is on a win streak, so I want to see him more. Of course, they are the professionals, and they know the sport much better than I, but it still seems strange to cut his legs out when he's in stride. I think he takes Simmons today, with ease.

You don't want to burn him up too soon. He's just 19. They're not cutting his legs out, they're preserving them.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It's clear you're not very impressed with him. Personally I think he's doing remarkably well on a team that doesn't really offer a sprinter many opportunities. It's because he's so good that he actually still gets his wins. I don't know where he goes from here, but like I said, Philipsen wasn't better than this at his age.


You don't want to burn him up too soon. He's just 19. They're not cutting his legs out, they're preserving them.

On Kooij, I am rooting for him to be more than I am giving him credit for now.

I just don't think that maybe putting him in tomorrow, and definitely considering him for Dwars is that dangerous for his career. But again, I don't run a professioinal team.

 

[yaco]

Against actual sprinters, I think he loses much more than he wins, and the stats bear that out. He loses to Merlier more than he wins, he loses to Milan more than he wins, he loses to Philipsen A LOT more than he wins. Grade B...but I mean, he CRUSHED Bittner in Oman.

Brennan couldn't beat Welsford at the TDU. Kooij is currently faster in a flat sprint and he will do well in GW if there is a sprint type finish.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Brennan couldn't beat Welsford at the TDU. Kooij is currently faster in a flat sprint and he will do well in GW if there is a sprint type finish.

I don't really care what you think, but thanks for sharing anyway.

And clearly you haven't been watching young Brennan the last week. I don't know if you're aware of this, but riders progress in fitness as the season goes along, so I think the illustration of your point is pretty ridiculous.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Probably to Dwars and even perhaps the monuments.

Dwars, Limburg, Romandie, some rest. Then decide on best prep for some stage wins at La Vuelta. Why not?

 

[Netserk]

Dwars, Limburg, Romandie, some rest. Then decide on best prep for some stage wins at La Vuelta. Why not?

I'd rather take Kooij there, at least if he renews. That should leave Benelux/Renewi Tour for Brennan, even if I'd like to see him in Danmark Rundt.

Tour of Norway has also been mentioned for Brennan, but we'll see.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I'd rather take Kooij there, at least if he renews. That should leave Benelux/Renewi Tour for Brennan, even if I'd like to see him in Danmark Rundt.

Tour of Norway has also been mentioned for Brennan, but we'll see.

They probably aren't mutually exclusive. Brennan can win some stages Kooij can't, and vice-versa. Obvs depends on Jonas's plans though.

 

[yaco]

I don't really care what you think, but thanks for sharing anyway.

And clearly you haven't been watching young Brennan the last week. I don't know if you're aware of this, but riders progress in fitness as the season goes along, so I think the illustration of your point is pretty ridiculous.

Brennan's top speed is not yet of the fastest sprinters, most who will make the final of a race. There is a possibility he may get faster but he is more of a classics sprinter as opposed to a flat out sprinter type.

 

[postmanhat]

Now that Klooj is out, might as well send him to DDV for the experience, if nothing else.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It's clear you're not very impressed with him. Personally I think he's doing remarkably well on a team that doesn't really offer a sprinter many opportunities. It's because he's so good that he actually still gets his wins. I don't know where he goes from here, but like I said, Philipsen wasn't better than this at his age.


You don't want to burn him up too soon. He's just 19. They're not cutting his legs out, they're preserving them.

Unfortunately, neither of us will know what could have happened this spring. I hate when a crash takes out anyone, and for Visma, it's almost like there's a curse. Hope he heals, and do wonder if this makes Dwars more likely for Brennan.

 

[postmanhat]

He's been removed from The NXT Classic startlist on Saturday, so maybe his early withdrawal from Catalunya was due to an injury/sickness?

Was really looking forward to another contest with Del Grosso.

 

[Netserk]

so maybe his early withdrawal from Catalunya was due to an injury/sickness?

No, it was planned before the race. If he hadn't left after his second stage win, but been around the next morning, he'd have done the altered stage to Berga too.

I think he'll do Roubaix.

 

[PenelopeHartman]

Thank you so much for the info.

 

[postmanhat]

No, it was planned before the race. If he hadn't left after his second stage win, but been around the next morning, he'd have done the altered stage to Berga too.

I think he'll do Roubaix.

Was only a few weeks ago, they were talking about him continuing in the U-23 races to help him develop. Can't really see the point in him going to Roubaix at 19, when he's had so little experience on cobbles before.

Del Grosso has also been withdrawn from NXT tomorrow. Would make much more sense for him to give it a go, as MVDP's team are pretty much irrelevant to his chances.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Brennan can easily do a PR this year at 19 yo. Hell he might beat expectations. However assuming serious ambitions with van Aert, I don't think is a good idea to have Brennan going along to gain experience this time around. The team should send him to Tro Bro Leon along with some other smaller one day races in spring. Get a couple more wins under the wings.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Was only a few weeks ago, they were talking about him continuing in the U-23 races to help him develop. Can't really see the point in him going to Roubaix at 19, when he's had so little experience on cobbles before.

Del Grosso has also been withdrawn from NXT tomorrow. Would make much more sense for him to give it a go, as MVDP's team are pretty much irrelevant to his chances.

MvdP's team dominated the race from start to finish last year. I take your point though that it sometimes look like he doesn't need any help.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Roubaix too much to expect a 19 year old to be there all race against these guys, but he can still be useful given he seems to have an instinct for positioning and clearly a nasty power profile. With this field and the type of riders the separation being made very early is likely, they could just set him pacing hard before Haveluy, get them on the front foot before Arenberg then DNF when he's done. Problem is it's been tried before in 2023 so others could be wise to it, not going to catch VDP out early but you might be able to get rid of some of his team or maybe one of the bigger riders will be caught lacking.

A good Laporte is a serious miss for them.

 

[postmanhat]

MvdP's team dominated the race from start to finish last year. I take your point though that it sometimes look like he doesn't need any help.

Sorry, should have specified that I meant this year's edition, now that Pogacar is riding. As on Sunday, most teams are likely to be irrelevant unfortunately?

 

[Netserk]

Roubaix too much to expect a 19 year old to be there all race against these guys, but he can still be useful given he seems to have an instinct for positioning and clearly a nasty power profile. With this field and the type of riders the separation being made very early is likely, they could just set him pacing hard before Haveluy, get them on the front foot before Arenberg then DNF when he's done. Problem is it's been tried before in 2023 so others could be wise to it, not going to catch VDP out early but you might be able to get rid of some of his team or maybe one of the bigger riders will be caught lacking.

A good Laporte is a serious miss for them.

In any case, he probably wouldn't be of any help after Arenberg (like most at the start), so his race as a dom would be over by then. A 160 km race at full speed is not in itself an issue at that age, only whether or not that he can keep up until then.

 

[postmanhat]

Roubaix too much to expect a 19 year old to be there all race against these guys, but he can still be useful given he seems to have an instinct for positioning and clearly a nasty power profile. With this field and the type of riders the separation being made very early is likely, they could just set him pacing hard before Haveluy, get them on the front foot before Arenberg then DNF when he's done. Problem is it's been tried before in 2023 so others could be wise to it, not going to catch VDP out early but you might be able to get rid of some of his team or maybe one of the bigger riders will be caught lacking.

A good Laporte is a serious miss for them.

No doubt he could be of some use for a while, but still a really strange option at this stage in his career, and also that this will be the first Pogacar Roubaix, therefore, probably not like the others tactically.

As D&C said above, just let him develop as a rider and get some wins and experience under his belt. If, unlikely atm, he's ever competitive at this race, it won't be for a long while yet.

 

[hayneplane]

Brennan can easily do a PR this year at 19 yo. Hell he might beat expectations. However assuming serious ambitions with van Aert, I don't think is a good idea to have Brennan going along to gain experience this time around. The team should send him to Tro Bro Leon along with some other smaller one day races in spring. Get a couple more wins under the wings.

If they were to send him to Paris Roubaix Espoirs that could be good. Albert Withen Philipsen is scheduled to ride there for Lidl Trek.