Matthew Brennan, 21-year-old British sprinter for Visma-Lease a Bike, has left his mark on the history of the 2026 Vuelta: he has become the youngest ever to achieve five stage victories in a single edition of the race. This triumph comes at the end of his debut in the Grand Tours, an experience that exceeded every expectation. His enthusiasm is palpable. "Yes, I got five victories – explains Brennan, with a contagious smile -, plus two with Wout Van Aert". Seven successes for the Dutch team, a record: in the past it had stopped at six, as at the 2022 Tour and the 2026 Giro. And Brennan's victories are not only a personal achievement, but an example of how rewarding teamwork can be.

Before the start of the final stage, Brennan raised his bike in salute to teammate Steven Kruijswijk, who will retire from cycling after the Vuelta. "It was a nice moment. We're a great team, and when someone leaves the group it always has a certain effect," Brennan commented, then returned to his experience at the Vuelta: "What did I learn in these three weeks? I'd say I'm much more resilient than I thought. At the beginning of the race you think that 21 days is an eternity, you know... But then the atmosphere in the race was really excellent, you start to believe more in yourself and your abilities; there are days when you feel great and others when you feel terrible. The twentieth stage was an example: you only saw me at the finish, I couldn't do much. It was still a great experience to understand what my limits are and how to face the race day after day".

The last day was a mix of emotions and exhaustion after the efforts on the Collado del Alguacil stage. "I didn't even get out of bed. The other guys have enormous 'engines', so they went out to warm up for today. I, on the other hand, stayed in bed compulsively scrolling through my phone," Brennan confessed. The British sprinter will take home not only trophies, but also indelible memories. He spoke of Kruijswijk with affection, emphasizing the importance of their bond: "To joke about it, I can say I received some new white socks and, regarding the team, there's everything related to Stevie. We've had really beautiful moments and great experiences. But this day in Granada is truly unique: we can say goodbye to Stevie, and I'll be wearing a pair of white socks. I'm really happy to be part of this team. We've shown we can work well both defensively and offensively".

Matthew Brennan is not just a promising cyclist: he is a symbol of what perseverance and teamwork mean. With his record of five stage victories, the future looks bright for this young talent. Twenty-one days of racing are a lot and Brennan will take home important lessons: "Above all, I understood how hard it is to race. As a team we give our best, but on days like this the situation is completely open; I think these are precisely the occasions when I learn the most, racing at the highest levels in the group. So I'm happy to be in this group and to always learn from it".