Brandon McNulty wins men's road race world title with 30 km solo attack in Montreal

Brandon McNulty claimed the rainbow jersey in the men's elite road race at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday. The 28-year-old American launched a solo attack with 30 kilometers remaining in the 270-kilometer race, holding off a chase group of elite contenders to win by 13 seconds. Australia's Michael Matthews took silver, edging out 2023 world champion Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands, who secured bronze. McNulty became the first rider from the United States to win the men's road world title since Lance Armstrong in 1993, while also securing a third consecutive world road title for UAE Team Emirates following Tadej Pogacar's previous victories.

French team reels in early breakaway

The race began in Brossard before crossing the Samuel De Champlain Bridge for a 112-kilometer lead-in toward Montreal's 12-lap local circuit. An early 16-rider breakaway, including Biniam Girmay, Andreas Leknessund, Felix Engelhardt, Guillaume Boivin, and Emils Liepins, established an advantage of eight minutes over the main peloton. As the riders reached the circuit featuring the Voie Camillien-Houde climb, the French national team moved to the front to set a demanding pace for Paul Seixas. French rider Bruno Armirail led the peloton across four consecutive laps, erasing the entire eight-minute deficit and neutralizing the breakaway with slightly over 100 kilometers left to race.

Van der Poel forces the selection

With electronic race radios barred at the World Championships, riders operated on tactical instinct. Van der Poel initiated a series of accelerations to test the peloton, beginning with moves 85 kilometers from the finish line. An elite group formed at the front, featuring Van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Primoz Roglic, Quinn Simmons, Oscar Onley, and Anthon Charmig. Further climbing on the Camillien-Houde fractured the front group, causing Van Aert and 2022 world champion Remco Evenepoel to lose contact. Van der Poel, Simmons, and Onley pressed ahead, but the remnants of the chase caught the trio with 34 kilometers remaining.

“This is the best thing there is, racing without earpieces and riding on instinct.”

Chasers stall in closing kilometers

Capitalizing on the lull following the catch, McNulty launched his solo move 30 kilometers from the finish. The American built a 30-second advantage as cooperation in the chasing group fragmented. Although attacks from behind brought the margin down to eight seconds with roughly 10 kilometers remaining, the pursuers began watching one another instead of mounting a unified pursuit. McNulty maintained his rhythm on the final ascents and carried his advantage across the finish line.

“I needed a miracle to become world champion, and that miracle happened. I have no words for this.”

Reactions from the podium

McNulty noted after the finish that his morning started with a lighthearted joke to his wife about winning the title, but he acknowledged the severe physical toll of the effort on the final climbs. Van der Poel expressed satisfaction with his bronze medal and aggressive tactics, noting that he sought to avoid facing specialist climbers in the final kilometers. The Dutch rider noted that he will complete sponsor duties on Monday before ending his road season to prepare for the birth of his first child.