The Matthew Brennan Threat

[Oldman]

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

Why not, indeed? It may be JV's best strategy for actual wins.

 

[KZD]

Speaking about Brennan, here its his schedule for 2026:

- Tour Down Under
- Omloop
- Kuurne
- Milan San Remo
- Gent Wevelgem
- Dwars door Vlaanderen
- Ronde van Vlaanderen
- Paris Roubaix
- Tour de Suisse
- Vuelta a España

Only 39 race days, so I expect a couple more races to be add in the second half of the season.

The Vuelta route looks perfect for him, up to 10 stages where he can contend, even though a few of those will probably go to the breakaway or to Van Aert.

 

[pastronef]

Speaking about Brennan, here its his schedule for 2026:

- Tour Down Under
- Omloop
- Kuurne
- Milan San Remo
- Gent Wevelgem
- Dwars door Vlaanderen
- Ronde van Vlaanderen
- Paris Roubaix
- Tour de Suisse
- Vuelta a España

Only 39 race days, so I expect a couple more races to be add in the second half of the season.

The Vuelta route looks perfect for him, up to 10 stages where he can contend, even though a few of those will probably go to the breakaway or to Van Aert.

maybe he can add E3 and De Panne and Brabantse Pijl

 

[HashRouge]

Is it hot take to say he wins MSR? I tend to think he can handle last climb and in the end he can take on anyone, anyone.. But how the last downhill goes for him after all out fight/attack. Looks like his endurance is ok, but team needs to keep escapees in tight leash through Cipressa.

It's definitely a race I can see him winning, but maybe not yet. The way Pogacar rode MSR last year wouldn't suit him, and I can see it going the same way this year. Though maybe not - now the other teams know Pogacar will try on the Cipressa, they may work even harder to stop the UAE domestiques getting into good positions.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Speaking about Brennan, here its his schedule for 2026:

- Tour Down Under
- Omloop
- Kuurne
- Milan San Remo
- Gent Wevelgem
- Dwars door Vlaanderen
- Ronde van Vlaanderen
- Paris Roubaix
- Tour de Suisse
- Vuelta a España

Only 39 race days, so I expect a couple more races to be add in the second half of the season.

The Vuelta route looks perfect for him, up to 10 stages where he can contend, even though a few of those will probably go to the breakaway or to Van Aert.

I would expect him to do a warm up race before the Vuelta. Tour of Denmark, for instance. But I also think that Visma is careful to not overdo it. Their riders usually don't have that many race days, so I understand why they would want to nurse Brennan a bit this season.

 

[Squire]

Tour de Suisse seems a bit useless. Why not farm some more suitable races, like some French/Belgian late May/mid June non-WT races before the nationals. Like Hugo, I also expect something like Tour of Denmark or the WT one-dayers in August as warm-up for the Vuelta. Probably the latter, as he can get some actual prestigious results there.

 

[Netserk]

suisse - pologne - vuelta is the sagan '11 schedule

 

[will-10]

Tour de Suisse seems a bit useless. Why not farm some more suitable races, like some French/Belgian late May/mid June non-WT races before the nationals. Like Hugo, I also expect something like Tour of Denmark or the WT one-dayers in August as warm-up for the Vuelta. Probably the latter, as he can get some actual prestigious results there.

Do we have a Suisse route yet?

 

[Squire]

Do we have a Suisse route yet?

Will be announced in March.

Considering it's shortened to five days, I don't expect there to be tons of sprint opportunities. Although 'more circuits', which the race also will have, sounds like it could be more up Brennan's alley. So we'll see how much the organizers manage to destroy the race with their 'maximum added value'.

 

[memyselfandI]

I would expect him to do a warm up race before the Vuelta. Tour of Denmark, for instance. But I also think that Visma is careful to not overdo it. Their riders usually don't have that many race days, so I understand why they would want to nurse Brennan a bit this season.

Yeah I wish Visma is careful with him, as there's next versatile sprinter superstar brewing here. Next Freire could be, no? He's very young and it's so very delicate balancing to keep that explosive output and still grow the overall performance level to Grand Tours and top end Classics.