Half a bike length was all that separated Matthew Brennan (Visma Lease a Bike) from a fairytale start to his pro career, as he sprinted to a close second on stage one of the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia.
The 19-year-old neo-pro finished runner-up to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Sam Welsford on the opening day of the WorldTour calendar. The Brit accelerated from fourth to second place in the final metres of the finishing straight in Gumeracha, and almost pipped the victory with a bike throw, held off by Welsford who had posted up to celebrate.
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