CyclistEven now I watch it back and think, How did I do that?: Matthew Brennan Q&ACyclist: What was your highlight of a successful 2025 season?Matthew Brennan: There are two my first pro win at the GP Denain, more of a Classics-style race; then going on to the Volta a Catalunya and winning my first WorldTour race [Stage 1]. Not just the win, but doing it by managing the gap almost perfectly. Even now I watch it back and think, How did I do that?You kicked on from there, with your win count for the season ending well into double figures. What did that dramatic Catalan win on a rainy run-in do for your confidence? It gives a lot of belief in yourself and what is possible. I dont sit here believing Im the strongest rider in the peloton, but this is whats good about bike racing theres much more to it than just power. Its about knowing where to be at certain points, managing your energy levels.What have been some of the biggest lessons youve learned at Visma-Lease a Bike in your first year?I got my first proper coach. I started getting daily schedules of some of the best sessions I can do to help stimulate my body, and have worked with strength coaches. You start to look at your nutrition and we have chefs on the races. These are big ten-per centers Ive not been exposed to before. Were not even talking about altitude at the moment, because why look for a one per cent improvement over those? I think thats what happened this year: we found a lot of big areas where weve managed to find improvement. Related Posts Its time for new challenges: Matt White Q&A You need people who are world class but are fallible as well: Fran Millar Q&A Pro Log: Mens Grand Tours get extra wildcard; Matthew Brennan breaks through; Tadej Pogaar to Paris-Roubaix; Lorena Wiebes hits 100 wins; Fabio Jakobsen takes time off bike You were diagnosed with coeliac disease a couple of years ago. How did that affect you in past races?It sounds simple: dont eat gluten. But how do we stop traces, eat properly, keep healthy? When Giles Pidcock [boss of Brennans previous team, Fensham Howes-MAS Design, and father of Tom] used to take us to junior races, we ate carbs, bread, pasta. Halfway through my first junior season I was diagnosed and they did a really good job of looking after me with gluten-free pasta and the like, but at the end of a race Id always finish with fuzzy eyes and almost like a bonking sensation.I just thought I wasnt eating enough. Obviously I didnt know anything about adapting to a coeliac lifestyle. Giles jokes with me now that if I can still get a top ten in a UCI junior race without being able to fuel, then I can win whatever bike race I want in the future.Who got you into cycling?My dad, Kevin. There was a big, fast group ride up north [in Darlington], racing to the cafe and home. Every week it was a case of how far can you get? That was a big thing for me. It brought a lot of good things and improves your group etiquette, looking after others to make it work to your advantage, especially when youre small, hanging on and hiding in the wheels. You see a lot of pro riders who dont actually know how to ride as a group and that surprises me.If you werent a pro cyclist, where would you be now?Id be at Loughborough University, studying biomedical engineering. That would have been my Plan B. This is the better life.Matthew Brennan seriously impressed during his first season at Visma Lease-a-Bike, winning 12 races and absorbing as much information about training and diet as possible.James YorkWeve seen you win sprints and do well in cobbled races, hilly races and short time-trials. In your own words, what kind of rider are you?I dont class myself as a rider of any kind of specificness. For the moment, I try to push myself in everything I can. Im not saying Im not a TT rider because Im only 20 years old. Guys in their prime are 27 or 28. Who knows, in eight years time I could be a fantastic climber.At the moment it seems to be dictating towards a hard day and then a sprint finish or a reduced group for me. But were finding out that with the right helpers I can potentially beat some of the pure sprinters too. Its just an exploration project at the moment.When you were younger, which riders did you look up to?I always thought Micha Kwiatkowski was quite cool. Hes a really good role model. Its nice racing with him; you can see he knows what hes doing. Hes so underrated, capable of winning his own bike races and guiding others. If hes moving up and you dont know why, theres always a reason for it.What does winning a bunch sprint feel like?Leading into it, youre trying to spot the patterns and understand who is where and which riders you know will be there at the finish, but also trying to not get involved in the messy parts because that wastes a lot of mental energy. Its about trying to get there with the least stress possible.Last year, maybe I was stressing a bit more than I should have been in these bunch sprints. It doesnt add anything. I settled down in my thought processes, swept the rubbish away and focussed on whats actually happening. When you do that, you bring in the important things.Emotion doesnt really play a part in the bike race, to be honest. Your goal is to get across the line first. If you do that, thats great; if not, its frustrating but I dont associate my feelings as much with sport now. I think it has been really good in the development process to not kick off and have a tantrum. Just sit down, see what happened and look at what you can do next time.If you had to pick one race youd love to win, what would it be?The Tour of Flanders. Paris-Roubaix as well. Any Classic. Im going to ask for Milan-San Remo next year lets see whether I get it.The post Even now I watch it back and think, How did I do that?: Matthew Brennan Q&A appeared first on Cyclist.