He was already regarded as one of the brightest prospects in British cycling, and he has now become a central pillar of Visma–Lease a Bike’s future. At just 20 years of age, Matthew Brennan has signed a contract extension taking him through to 2029 with the Dutch WorldTour outfit — a reward for what has been an extraordinary maiden professional season. With twelve victories to his name in 2025, the sprinter-puncheur from Darlington has firmly established himself as one of the revelations of the year, fully living up to the expectations surrounding him for several seasons.
A prodigy shaped on the track before shining on the road
To understand the rapid rise of Matthew Brennan, you have to go back a few years, to the heart of Britain’s velodromes. Long before he became one of the most exciting young riders in the professional peloton, Brennan was already a world-class track talent. Junior world champion in the Madison in 2023 alongside Ben Wiggins — son of the legendary Bradley Wiggins — he also broke the junior world record in the individual pursuit, proving early on that he possessed a rare blend of power and endurance.
A graduate of the Fensham Howes–MAS development structure, run by Giles Pidcock (father of Tom), Brennan grew up in an environment where versatility and performance were non-negotiable. Riding alongside Ben Wiggins, he developed an exceptional sense of race craft — a gift from the track — which now serves him perfectly on the road, particularly in chaotic bunch sprints or technical uphill finishes.
Spotted at a very young age by Visma–Lease a Bike, Brennan first joined their development team in 2024, at only 18. It was a bold move from the Dutch squad, who believed they had unearthed a huge talent needing only time and structure to be refined. Development staff, including Robbert de Groot, quickly identified his remarkable natural attributes and unusually complete profile, owed in part to his track background. He is a natural sprinter with the punch to win big classics — and the notion of him winning stage races in the future is far from unrealistic.
Even Brennan admits that his exact profile remains a work in progress: “We’re taking things step by step. There’s no rush. Maybe in a year or two I’ll be a completely different kind of rider.”
That steady development has paid dividends the moment he stepped up to the pro ranks. His track-honed sense of pacing, his calmness in tense finales, and his tactical instincts have all become major assets in the WorldTour. And whenever Visma tested him across new terrains — cobbles, short climbs, exposed crosswinds — Brennan rose to the challenge. His progress has been relentless, polished by Visma’s famously meticulous approach, and supercharged by an outstanding 2025 season.
A stunning 2025 debut season that made his contract extension inevitable
If there had been any lingering doubts about his ability to adapt to the highest level, they disappeared within the first months of 2025. Brennan had already stood out with the development squad by winning the Tour des 100 Communes and the GP de Lillers, but what followed exceeded all expectations. His breakthrough at the Grand Prix de Denain — known as the “mini Paris-Roubaix” — was the first major turning point: he outsprinted established cobble specialists, proving he was far more than just a pure fast man.
Then came the Volta a Catalunya. Sent to Spain at the last minute after Jonas Vingegaard withdrew, Brennan seized the unexpected opportunity with both hands. He won the opening stage, pulled on the leader’s jersey and added a second stage victory only days later. Aged just 19, he became the youngest rider since 1947 to lead the Tour of Catalonia. More impressively still, Cycling Statistics confirmed he was the youngest rider in WorldTour history to reach a stage podium so early in his career.
The following weeks only strengthened his reputation: a victory at the Tour de Romandie, overall triumph at the Tour of Norway, and convincing showings across several classics. Brennan proved he can sprint, survive the climbs, ride strong time trials, and even bury himself for team-mates — as he did on his Paris-Roubaix debut, supporting Wout van Aert before blowing up in Arenberg, eventually finishing 44th on the Hell of the North.
With twelve professional wins in his first full season, Brennan has established himself as one of Britain’s most exciting prospects since the days of Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas or Mark Cavendish — and one of the country’s current standout young talents alongside Tom Pidcock and Oscar Onley.
Given such a spectacular debut, his contract extension felt almost inevitable. Capable of winning on cobbles, in reduced sprints, on rolling terrain and even in week-long stage races such as the Tour of Norway, the 20-year-old has shown a level of versatility that is exceptionally rare. His ability to shine in such varied contexts — and to act as a model team-mate when required — has convinced the Visma management that Brennan is now a key piece of their long-term project.
The Dutch outfit made that crystal clear in their announcement. “As a team, we have always adapted to his level and offered him races and challenges appropriate to his development. He has made huge progress this season, but there is still much for him to learn,” explained Grischa Niermann, the team’s head of racing. Brennan’s future at the world’s leading squad is therefore secured until 2029 — a logical and decisive move after a debut season that has sent expectations soaring.
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