Cyclist Matthew Brennan celebrates 'fantastic' double victory in first Grand Tour

British cyclist Matthew Brennan described his achievement of a double victory in his first Grand Tour appearance as "fantastic success." The Visma Lease a Bike rider celebrated the win at the finish line in Roquetes, Tarragona, expressing gratitude for his team's all-day effort.

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A double is fantastic in the first Grand Tour. Everyone was at their maximum throughout the whole day, so I am very grateful to be able to finish the stage again with a triumph. It's a relief for the whole team.

"It's not bad. A double is fantastic in the first Grand Tour. Everyone was at their maximum throughout the whole day, so I am very grateful to be able to finish the stage again with a win. It's a relief for the whole team," Brennan stated after the stage. He specifically acknowledged the crucial work of his teammates, including Wout Van Aert and Christophe Laporte, whom he considers among the best in the world for such efforts.

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We had teammates pulling at the front until the last kilometers, and then Wout Van Aert and Christophe Laporte did an impressive job, both are probably among the best in the world for this type of thing. They supported me to the finish line.

Brennan, who hails from Darlington and is 21 years old, detailed the challenging final kilometers of the race. He admitted to nearly losing control of his wheel on the last corner due to slippery paint on the road, but fortunately, he and teammate Christophe Laporte managed the situation without incident.

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In the last corner I lost a bit of control of the wheel. The paint was a bit slippery, but luckily, nothing happened to me. Christophe Laporte also noticed it a bit, but he managed it very well, so I'm glad we could finish with our arms raised.

Reflecting on his performance, Brennan noted that while he doesn't consider himself a pure sprinter, his ability to climb well on certain terrains, combined with strong team support, proved advantageous. He mentioned the significant contributions of Stevie Kruijswijk and Bruno Armirail, whose strength further boosted his confidence to pursue more victories.

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I wouldn't say I'm a sprinter, and I can climb quite well, so this type of terrain suits me very well, especially with the support I have here. Even Stevie Kruijswijk and Bruno Armirail were very strong.