Matthew Brennan won stage 5 of the Vuelta a España in Roquetes, extending a remarkable Grand Tour debut. The 21-year-old Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider sprinted to his second victory of the race after a lead-out featuring Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte.
Matthew Brennan finishes off Visma’s work
The 173.4-kilometre stage began in Falset and offered another selective route for riders chasing limited sprint chances. The main difficulty was the category three Alto de Paüls, a four-kilometre climb averaging 7.1 percent. Its summit came with more than 20 kilometres still to race.
Brennan survived that late obstacle with Visma’s support structure intact. The team controlled the closing kilometres before Van Aert and Laporte guided him toward the finish. Brennan came through the final corner slightly out of position, then recovered quickly enough to finish the job.
After the stage, Brennan said the whole team had committed fully through the day. He described the win as his second in his first Grand Tour and said his teammates felt some relief after delivering him again. Asked about having Van Aert and Laporte in front of him, he called it better than a normal job.
Van Aert and Laporte anchor the lead-out
Van Aert had said before the race that he preferred leading Brennan out on flatter stages rather than trying to beat him. Visma have followed that approach during the opening week, and the plan again worked in Roquetes.
Brennan said the execution was close to perfect. He credited two teammates for controlling the front into the final kilometres, before Van Aert and Laporte took over. He described them as among the best riders in the world for that type of finish.
The last turn still carried danger. Brennan said he lost Laporte’s wheel slightly as the painted road surface felt slippery. Laporte also sensed the risk and handled the corner well, leaving Brennan relieved to stay upright and raise his arms.
Not just a sprinter
Brennan arrived at the Vuelta with strong form already established. Earlier in August, he won two stages at the Vuelta a Burgos. He then took his first Grand Tour stage on stage 2 in Manosque, coming from behind after Van Aert attacked on the climb to the line.
The young Briton now also holds the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification. His two wins in five days have exceeded expectations in a race widely viewed as short on opportunities for the fast finishers.
Brennan, though, rejected a simple sprinting label. He said he would not call himself a sprinter, adding that his ability to climb a little makes terrain like this suit him. That versatility has become central to his first Vuelta success.
He also widened the credit beyond the final lead-out pair. Brennan named Stevie and Bruno among the riders who gave him confidence before the final kilometres. With that backing, he said, he can keep trying to achieve more.
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