Half a motorcycle size was all that separated Matthew Brennan (Visma Lease a Bike) from a fairytale begin to his professional profession, as he sprinted to a detailed second on stage one of many Santos Tour Down Underneath in Australia.
The 19-year-old neo-pro completed runner-up to Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Sam Welsford on the opening day of the WorldTour calendar. The Brit accelerated from fourth to second place within the remaining metres of the ending straight in Gumeracha, and virtually pipped the victory with a motorcycle throw, held off by Welsford who had posted as much as have fun.
Following the stage, the Brit mentioned the result’s “one I’ll keep in mind for a very long time”.
“I’m actually proud of it,” he mentioned. “I’ve to thank the workforce—they labored laborious for me all day. Within the remaining kilometres, we wished to take our probability and see how shut we may get. I noticed a spot on the left facet of the highway and determined to go for it. I believe I had a powerful dash, however ultimately, I got here up simply brief. At this stage, there’s no disgrace in that.”
Brennan was one among three Brits who completed within the prime 5 on the stage. Matthew Partitions (Groupama-FDJ) positioned third, whereas Ben Swift (Ineos Grenadiers), using in his seventeenth full season as a professional, was fifth.
The Visma-Lease a Bike teenager will start stage two on Wednesday within the white jersey because the best-placed younger rider.
“Earlier than the race, I’d have gladly signed up for a podium end in my very first WorldTour occasion,” Brennan mentioned. “In fact, it stings a bit of to overlook out on the win by such a small margin, nevertheless it’s wonderful to be beginning tomorrow within the white jersey.
“This was a busy season opener, however one I’ll keep in mind for a very long time. This second place offers me a whole lot of confidence. I believe we’ve began this Tour Down Underneath on the appropriate foot as a workforce.”
Having come by the UK-based Fensham Howes-MAS Design junior workforce, Brennan joined Visma-Lease a Bike’s improvement arm final season, scoring a notable win on the ultimate day of the Giro d’Italia Subsequent Gen.
He made his skilled debut final Saturday on the Villawood Males’s Traditional – a pre-Tour Down Underneath criterium occasion – and completed third, once more behind the winner Welsford.
The six-stage Tour Down Underneath continues on Wednesday with a hilly second stage in Tanunda. The race will start at 11:14 native time (00:44 GMT).
