Brennan claims victory in Volta Ciclista a Catalunya opener after impressive effort
Matthew Brennan secured a stunning victory in the opening stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The 19-year-old Brit from Team Visma | Lease a Bike powered his way to breakaway rider Tibor del Grosso in the closing kilometers before overtaking the Dutchman just before the finish line.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with this win”, Brennan said at the finish. The 19-year-old quickly switched to analyzing the stage like a seasoned pro. “The weather conditions made it really tricky today. As a team, we did everything we could to maintain a front-row position. After my teammates put me in a good spot heading into the finale, I managed to stay near the front in the final kilometers. At that point, all I could do was go all out. I switched off my mind and gave it everything I had. The result speaks for itself.”
“Last night, I watched the finish of this stage from 2024”, Brennan continued. “I knew today would likely play out in a similar way. I think we played it just right as a team. This was the perfect scenario for us. Winning at this level means a lot.”
"I’m absolutely thrilled with this win"

In harsh conditions, Brennan and his teammates rolled out of Sant Feliu de Guíxols early in the afternoon for a stage of around 180 kilometers. A traditional breakaway formed but was ultimately short-lived.
When Del Grosso attacked from the peloton, Brennan wasted no time in responding. The sprinter, in his first year at WorldTour level, took it upon himself to lead the chase. Kaden Groves, Del Grosso’s teammate, sat on his wheel. For a long time, it looked like Del Grosso would hold on, but Brennan’s relentless effort proved decisive. Just before the line, he managed to surge past the Dutchman.
It marked Brennan’s fourth victory of the year—and his fourth victory in his last four race days. For Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s WorldTour squad, it was their ninth win of the season.