Why Matthew Brennan didn't drink his Kuurne podium beer

“No, I’m not boring,” Brennan said to CyclingProNet. “I’m a celiac so I cannot have gluten. And if I had that, then that would be season over for me.”

Most riders take a sip without thinking. Brennan can’t afford to. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the body reacts aggressively to gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat and barley. When someone with the condition consumes gluten, the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine. 

Over time, that damages the gut and reduces the body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly. For an elite endurance athlete, whose performance depends on efficient fuelling and recovery, that is not a minor issue. Even small exposure can trigger significant physical consequences.

“It’s a shame,” Brennan admitted, referring to the untouched beer. “Because it’s always part of the moment. But unfortunately, I’d like to try and win some more bike races this year.”

Beyond Kuurne and the podium beer, the questions are already shifting toward what he might become in the classics.

“Potentially,” Brennan said, when asked if he could grow into a genuine contender for the biggest one-day races. “That’s the ambition and that’s the development pathway that we would like to kind of be on.”

He was careful not to turn one win into a deadline, insisting the team is giving him time and space to grow into that role.

“There’s no pressure from the team. They create the environment that I can use to build this. If it comes quickly, it comes quickly. But if it doesn’t then it’s also a part of the process.”

In the end, the untouched beer said enough: Brennan is thinking about the weeks ahead, not just the photo op on the podium.