Brennan targets Classics and first Grand Tour test after breakthrough year

Brennan’s debut season was exceptional, with wins that showed maturity and versatility for a 20-year-old, from overall victory at the Tour of Norway to a breakthrough on the cobbles at the Grand Prix de Denain, labelled by some as a “mini Roubaix”.

“It has been a very successful year,” he said in a statement released by Visma | Lease a Bike. “Since joining the team, I’ve felt that the guidance is excellent and that I have the best support from everyone. I believe this team offers me the best opportunities to keep growing and become an even better rider.”

The aim for 2026 straightforward, Brennan said: “I hope to reach the same level as last season, and ideally push even higher. From there, I want to play more of a role in the bigger races.”

Those bigger races arrive quickly. Brennan will start his season next week at the Tour Down Under, where he is targeting stage results, before shifting his focus to the Spring Classics. 

After making his Paris-Roubaix debut last year, he is keen to return, alongside other Monuments that will challenge him to reach new heights. “This year I’m focusing on races like Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. I want to be involved and gain experience in those races.”

After the spring, his calendar opens up further. If everything goes to plan, Brennan is set to make his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta later in the year. 

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he says. “Three weeks will be tough, and I don’t yet know how my body will respond, but with good preparation and a strong team, I hope to learn a lot. It would be great to win a stage, but above all I want to gain experience.”

Brennan’s next step is backed by a long-term commitment. After his breakthrough season, he extended his contract with Visma | Lease a Bike through to the end of 2029, a clear sign of both his rapid rise and the team’s confidence in giving him time to develop.

That rise has been hard to miss inside the squad too. Speaking on the Domestique Hotseat podcast, Matteo Jorgenson did not hesitate when asked about the most exciting young rider in today's peloton. "He's so impressive. It's insane. He's the definition of a wonderkid," Jorgenson said. “For me, his versatility is the part that makes him so impressive."

Also read:

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• 'The time has come' - Jonas Vingegaard targets Giro-Tour double in 2026
• 'Unfinished business' - Van Aert changes Classics approach in 2026
• Ferrand-Prévot embraces favourite status as Visma | Lease a Bike look ahead to 2026
• 'I've been close to burning out' - Vingegaard respects Simon Yates' retirement decision