Visma boss Plugge opens door for Matthew Brennan’s Tour debut after Vuelta breakthrough

The 21-year-old has made no secret of his desire to line up at next year's Grand Départ in Edinburgh, where the opening stage to Carlisle offers an opportunity for the sprinters to claim the first yellow jersey.

Brennan strengthened his case considerably in September, winning five stages on his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta. His performances have left Visma with a potentially difficult decision as they prepare a Tour squad that is also expected to revolve around Jonas Vingegaard's general classification ambitions.

Speaking to WielerFlits following Thursday's presentation of the 2027 Tour de France route, Plugge acknowledged that Brennan had made himself difficult to overlook.

"Matthew really knocked on the door there," Plugge said. "He's now one of the big stars in cycling, and this is the biggest race. So we will definitely consider it."

The team boss stopped short of promising Brennan a place in the eight-man squad, stressing that the final selection would depend on Visma's broader objectives.

"We have to see what the best way forward is, who we take and who we don't. Whatever happens, we'll do it together as a team."

Brennan had his sights set on the 2027 Tour long before his remarkable five stage victories at the Vuelta a España.

"I already said it to the team two years ago now, when I heard about the UK start," Brennan said during the Vuelta, after claiming his fourth stage victory.

"For myself, I'd really like to be there on the start line and to have guys like Wout [van Aert] and Christophe [Laporte] there also. If we can do the same thing as we did here, we can really try to copy what we do and replicate that into a yellow jersey on day one."

Brennan also believes he could offer Visma more than just a fast finish, having demonstrated his versatility throughout the Vuelta, including helping Van Aert to a stage victory on the demanding road to Loja.

"I also understand that the best squad has to go with the ambitions that the team has. I think we can probably use me in different ways as well in the Tour to help Jonas [Vingegaard] bring out his strengths even more and play the cards," he explained.

His performances in Spain certainly caught the attention of Visma's management. Speaking to De Telegraaf in September, sports director Marc Reef praised Brennan's rapid development but stopped short of guaranteeing him a Tour debut.

"That he manages to win five times is really sensational," Reef said. "We knew what he had in him, but of course he took an enormous step in his development here."

"But we will only look at the scenarios for next year after the end of this season. Then we will determine our goals for each individual Grand Tour and see which riders fit those goals. Matthew will certainly be in our thoughts."

The 2027 Tour route could work in Brennan's favour, with seven flat stages offering opportunities for the sprinters.

Yet Visma must also assemble a team capable of supporting Vingegaard in the mountains and controlling the race on flatter terrain. Finding room for a dedicated sprint option will therefore require careful consideration.

Brennan's willingness to contribute to Vingegaard's ambitions could strengthen his case, particularly after his Vuelta performances showed he can combine his own opportunities with a supporting role.

With five Grand Tour stage victories now to his name, the 21-year-old has strengthened his case for a Tour de France debut. Plugge's latest comments suggest he is firmly in contention, but whether he makes the final selection will depend on how Visma balances his sprint ambitions with Vingegaard's pursuit of another yellow jersey.