Young rider Matthew Brennan sets a new personal milestone by participating in the renowned Paris-Roubaix bike race at the age of 19.
Young Cycling Star Matthew Brennan Makes Impressive Debut at Paris-Roubaix
In a thrilling turn of events, 19-year-old cycling prodigy Matthew Brennan found himself competing in his first ever Monument race, the 2022 Paris-Roubaix, as part of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
Brennan, who had already shown strong form early in the 2025 season with a stage win at the Tour de Romandie and leading in classification in April, was eager to make his mark on the challenging "Hell of the North." Known for its difficult cobblestone sectors, Paris-Roubaix is a one-day race that tests even the most experienced riders.
As the race unfolded, Brennan found himself riding at the front alongside cycling legends Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar. However, a few kilometers into the race, Brennan began to feel less than his best and was forced to drop out.
Despite the early exit, Brennan remained upbeat, standing on the grass of Roubaix Velodrome to take in the day's events. He was encouraged by Wout van Aert, who urged him to go for his own opportunity in Paris-Roubaix.
Van Aert himself struggled on some sectors early on, according to Brennan. The closing moments of the race were special for Brennan, who managed to complete the 259.2km race distance on his own, receiving rapturous applause.
Brennan placed 44th in the race, less than nine minutes behind the Dutch winner. Despite not achieving the victory, his performance was an impressive showing for the youngest rider at the race.
Looking ahead, there will be many more Paris-Roubaix races for Brennan in the future. His career already includes three victories, two at WorldTour level, and he is expected to continue climbing the ranks of cycling's elite.
Team Visma produced a documentary showcasing Brennan’s experience during the 2022 race, highlighting his role and performance. Although specific race performance details for Brennan at Paris-Roubaix 2022 are not readily available, his progression within Team Visma and notable early season victories in 2025 suggest he developed into a competitive rider in such classics by that time.
Brennan's instructions at the start of Paris-Roubaix were to support his team leader, Wout van Aert. However, his late call-up to the race meant that he was not initially scheduled to participate. Despite this, he seized the opportunity and demonstrated his potential as a formidable competitor in the world of cycling.
After the race, Brennan stated that he ran out of "explosivity" during the race, likely due to the grueling six-hour effort. Despite feeling generally tired, he was proud of his performance and looked forward to future challenges.
In conclusion, Matthew Brennan's debut at Paris-Roubaix in 2022 was a memorable one, showcasing his talent and determination in the face of adversity. His impressive showing at such a young age bodes well for his future in the sport.
1. Amidst the challenging cobblestone sectors of the Paris-Roubaix, sports prodigy Matthew Brennan showed his ambition to make his mark, competing in his first ever Monument race.
2. In the 2022 Paris-Roubaix, the young cycling sensation Matthew Brennan, despite an early exit, demonstrated his resilience and talent for sports by completing the race distance on his own, receiving rapturous applause.
