American McNulty succeeds UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Tadej Pogačar in the rainbow jersey, with the 28-year-old pulling off audacious attack

News | Team –28th September 2026

With a remarkable display on the streets of Montréal, Canada, Brandon McNulty won the UCI World Championships Road Race on Sunday evening. The result sees McNulty succeed his teammate Tadej Pogačar as the reigning world champion and holder of the rainbow jersey.

Taking his victory on behalf of the United States of America, McNulty ensures that UAE Team Emirates-XRG will have the world champion within its ranks for an astonishing third season in succession.

With Pogačar, winner of the last two editions. absent through injury, McNulty stepped up to the mark and claimed the biggest win of his career to date.

Perhaps second only to the Tour de France in terms of prestige, the World Championships is the race that all hold dear, and the American picked up his victory in truly exceptional fashion.

The 28-year-old made his move with 33km of the 273.4km race remaining, having already established himself within an elite leading group. From its midst, the American sprang, alone and audacious. No rival immediately followed McNulty’s wheel, and within a flash, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG representative had stolen a march on the field.

Within less than 10km, McNulty had a minute’s advantage. Behind the American, the best in the world were hoping to chase him down. Paul Siexas (France), Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) and Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) were among the chasers, but come the end of the race in Mount Royal, the best in the world showed his strength.

Try as they might through the final 25km of racing, the chasing group could not make a definitive dent on McNulty’s lead. From a minute, the gap seeped at one point to around 13 seconds, as the American came well and truly into view.

Showing incredible determination, though, the 28-year-old continued to press on regardless. As those behind started to look at one another, McNulty kicked again. From 13 seconds, the gap went back out towards the half-minute mark. It was McNulty’s career day in Canada.

Into the final kilometre, the road ramped up towards the line and the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider surged once more. Pain was etched across the American’s face, but still, McNulty knew that his reward would be the rainbow jersey.

As he crossed the line, 13 seconds ahead of his nearest rivals, the sense of pain turned into a look of disbelief. In his seventh professional season with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, McNulty has achieved the crowning moment of his career to date.

Succeeding his teammate and friend Pogačar in the rainbow jersey, McNulty is now the reigning world road race champion. It is an honour that the American will hold for the next year, and it is an honour that came so richly deserved on Sunday evening.

McNulty: “I’m at a loss for words. The last time up the climb I was just dying and trying to keep pushing the pedals.

“We said for a few weeks in the team that it’s possible to go for a big result and that we have a super strong squad. We marked everything, we had guys ahead in the moves and just rode really well. I’m super grateful for that and how they helped me.

“I knew something was possible, but joking with my wife, I said it would take a miracle, and today miracles happened.”

UCI World Championships Road Race 2026 results:

1. Brandon McNulty (United States of America) 6:17:04

2. Michael Matthews (Australia) +13″

3. Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) s.t

5. Isaac del Toro (Mexico) +14″