Image caption, Matthew Brennan’s victory was his fourth in as many races British teenager Matthew Brennan claimed his first World Tour race win with a stunning victory on stage one of the Volta a Catalunya.
The 19-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider hit the front with barely a metre to go after a punishing uphill sprint in wet conditions in Sant Feliu de Guixols.
Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Tibor del Grosso had broken clear of the leaders and looked set for victory, only for Brennan to set off in pursuit and reel him in at the last.
The Briton also managed to hold off sprint star Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who was on his wheel throughout the chase in a dramatic conclusion to the 178.3km stage.
It was a fourth race win in succession for Brennan, two coming for Visma’s development squad before he secured his first professional victory at the GP de Denain.
The Volta’s second stage takes the riders 177.3km from Banyoles to Figueres on Tuesday, with the seven-stage race concluding in Barcelona on Sunday.
1. Matthew Brennan (GB/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 4hrs 25mins 17secs2. Kaden Groves (Aus/Alpecin-Deceuninck) Same time3. Tibor del Grosso (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck) Same time4. Dorian Godon (Fra/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) Same time5. Andrea Vendrame (Ita/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) Same time6. Corbin Strong (NZ/Israel-Premier Tech) Same time7. Edward Planckaert (Bel/Alpecin-Deceuninck) Same time8. Mikel Landa (Esp/Soudal-Quick Step) Same time9. Lennert van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto) Same time10. Laurens de Plus (Bel/Ineos Grenadiers) Same
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