In the early phase of the race, a breakaway of four riders went clear and managed to build a solid gap for long time. As the finish approached, teams including Lidl-Trek, Decathlon AG2R and Team Visma | Lease a Bike increased the pace in the peloton. Their combined efforts ensured the break was caught in the closing stages, making a sprint in Laval inevitable.

In the hectic run-in to the finish, Brennan was well positioned and brought into the wheels by his team, slotting in behind Olav Kooij. However, in the fight for position he was forced to relinquish that wheel, meaning he had to launch his sprint earlier than planned and ultimately crossed the line in ninth place.

After the finish, Brennan gave a measured reaction to his result: “A top-10 finish is okay, but not really what I was hoping for.”

Sports director Robert Wagner praised the team’s execution: “It’s a shame, we would have liked to contest the win, but we’re not really disappointed. The team did what we needed to do.”

Team Visma | Lease a Bike closed the weekend on a positive note. The riders are in good physical condition, and a seventh place in the general classification for Louis Barré provided a strong overall result. For Barré, it marked a valuable step forward after a season affected by setbacks, and a confirmation of his upward trajectory with a top-10 finish in the GC.