Brandon McNulty wins men's world road race in Montreal with 35km solo attack
The American cyclist held off a late chase to finish 13 seconds ahead of Michael Matthews and Mathieu van der Poel, ending a 33-year title drought for the United States.
The winning solo attack
Brandon McNulty broke clear from an elite leading group with roughly 35 kilometres remaining on the 275-kilometre Montreal course. The 28-year-old American rider, competing without his UAE Team Emirates teammate Tadej Pogacar due to a collarbone injury sustained at the Vuelta a Espana, built an advantage of over one minute before entering the final circuit lap with a 50-second buffer. Great Britain's Tom Pidcock launched a chase during the final hour of racing, reducing the deficit to 15 seconds. McNulty held off the pursuit to finish 13 seconds ahead of the chasing group, securing the first American men's road race world title since Lance Armstrong in 1993.
Until the last hundred metres, I didn't believe it, I was so tired. I was just dying, but I kept pushing. We have said for weeks now that we had a super strong team. We talked about it, but I knew it would take a miracle. I guess miracles happen.
American team tactics
The United States national squad controlled the tactical phases across Montreal's circuit to isolate rival contenders. Quinn Simmons entered an initial 12-man move on the Voie Camillien-Houde climb with 90 kilometres remaining, fracturing the peloton into smaller chase groups. France's Bruno Armirail and Paul Seixas combined with Mexico's Isaac del Toro to lead a nine-man chase before Mathieu van der Poel attacked alongside Simmons, Primoz Roglic, and Oscar Onley. When McNulty launched his decisive solo move, teammates Simmons and Matteo Jorgenson marked counter-attacks from the pursuing group. Jorgenson neutralised accelerations from Pidcock on the closing lap, allowing McNulty to defend his margin while Simmons finished fourth and Jorgenson took eighth.
- A 12-rider breakaway forms on the Voie Camillien-Houde climb before splintering.
- Brandon McNulty launches a solo attack from the leading group to build a one-minute gap.
- McNulty starts the closing lap with a 50-second lead as Tom Pidcock leads the chase.
- McNulty crosses the line 13 seconds ahead of Michael Matthews and Mathieu van der Poel.
Belgian squad breakdown
Pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel struggled from the opening lap of the race, seven days after winning gold in the individual time trial. Belgium attempted to manage the UCI prohibition on race radios by writing tactical notes on water bottles handed out at feeding stations. Wout van Aert joined an elite six-man group featuring Van der Poel before losing ground on the Cote de Polytechnique climb with four laps remaining. Van Aert then dropped back to pace Evenepoel, who completed the race in 12th place, less than 30 seconds behind McNulty, while Van Aert crossed the line in 28th place at 5 minutes and 11 seconds.
I was not really in shape today. From the first lap, the pace was incredibly high and I immediately felt that I was not at my best level.
Podium sprint and standings
Behind McNulty, the chasing group contested the remaining podium positions in a sprint finish. Australia's Michael Matthews took the silver medal, while the Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel claimed bronze. Switzerland's Mauro Schmid launched an attack with under 10 kilometres remaining before the group caught him, leaving Schmid in 11th place ahead of Evenepoel and 14th-placed Stefan Kung. The race concluded the road events in Montreal, following Demi Vollering's victory for the Netherlands in the women's road race on Saturday.
