Matthew Brennan didn’t just survive his first Paris–Roubaix — he learned exactly how unforgiving the race can be, courtesy of Mathieu van der Poel. Brenann, who is one of the next big things in the pack–has already made a name for himself with some outstanding results. But his first Paris-Roubaix was definitely an eye-opener.
Speaking on Inside the Beehive, Visma–Lease a Bike’s team podcast, the 20-year-old Brit reflected on a breakout debut season capped by a contract extension through 2029. Among the highlights was his first ride through the Hell of the North.
In the thick of the battle
Brennan found himself well positioned deep into the race, even at moments when team leader Wout van Aert was briefly distanced. Early on, Brennan chose his wheels carefully, opting to follow world champion Tadej Pogačar rather than match Van der Poel’s restless movement across the road.
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“He was jumping everywhere — curbs, wheels, following everything,” Brennan said on the podcast. “I just thought: I’m not getting involved in that. He was way too agile for me.”
That calculation only delayed the inevitable.
The watt bomb by MvdP
After the Trouée d’Arenberg, in the Forest of Wallers, van der Poel launched one of his trademark accelerations. Brennan told himself the defending champion had to be tiring too. He was wrong.
“Then he dropped the biggest watt bomb I’ve ever seen,” Brennan said. “Everything just got left on the road. That’s when I cracked.”
Brennan would finish 44th, nearly nine minutes down, but described Roubaix as a defining step in his development. The brief, he said, was simple: gain experience, enjoy the chaos and help Van Aert if possible.
If not? “Then it still mattered,” he said — because now he knows exactly what that level looks like.
In 2024, Brennan started with the Visma Conti team. By 2025, he was already making a mark in the WorldTour. He won the overall at the Tour of Norway, a stage at the Tour of Deutschland, a win at Rund um Köln–outsprinting Biniam Grimay, no less. All told, the youngster already has 12 pro victories to his name–not bad for a rookie.