Matthew Brennan feels ready for leadership role in Omloop with Wout van Aert absent

Visma | Lease a Bike will have to miss the ill Wout van Aert on Saturday at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but the Dutch team still has some other cards to play. The main focus now is Matthew Brennan, who will also start on Sunday at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. What does the 20-year-old Brit himself expect from the Opening Weekend?

"I'm really looking forward to it," says an enthusiastic Brennan during a Visma | Lease a Bike press moment for our camera. "Even before the races in Australia, I had my sights set on this period coming up. We planned it well. Now I'm in a situation where I have the best possible chance to go for the win. If everything works out, it would be amazing."

Brennan made his debut last year at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, finishing 69th. His approach this winter has not been very different. He again raced the Santos Tour Down Under, where he won a stage. "The preparation has been almost identical. It went very well," he says.

"We also have the same goals and ambitions as last year. Maybe I have a different responsibility now due to the role I have and how I can influence the race. But in general, we just want to perform well here."

Absence of Wout van Aert
What has changed at the last moment is Visma | Lease a Bike’s lineup. The biggest name in the team, Wout van Aert, has had to withdraw from the Omloop. "It will be a bit different for us during the race. Especially in chaotic moments, he really shines. Unfortunately, we won’t have him this year," says Brennan.

"But luckily, we have a strong team to cover that. His absence isn’t an insurmountable problem. We can still achieve a very good result with the strong team we have. I have a lot of confidence."