Brandon McNulty pulled off a stunning upset at the UCI World Championships in Canada, breaking away from a field of cycling superstars to claim the men’s road race title on a grueling 273.4-kilometer course. The 28-year-old American surged clear 33 kilometers from the finish line in Montreal, holding off a chase group to secure his first world championship and become the first U.S. rider to capture the rainbow jersey since Lance Armstrong in 1993.
How McNulty Outmaneuvered the Favorites in Montreal
The race came alive on a 13.4-kilometer circuit centered around Mont Royal, which riders tackled 12 times for a total of 269 climbing meters per lap. With steep ramps like the Côte Camillien-Houde and Chemin de Polytechnique shredding the peloton, former world champion Mathieu van der Poel sparked an aggressive phase of racing roughly 90 kilometers from the finish by launching a high-tempo attack. That move shattered the main group and forced heavyweights like France’s Paul Seixas and Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro to expend vital energy controlling the chase.
With the main pursuers neutralized roughly 35 kilometers out, McNulty seized his moment. The American launched a solo offensive that quickly yielded a lead of nearly a minute. Though his advantage dwindled down the stretch, McNulty preserved a 13-second margin by the time he reached the finish line on Avenue de Parc. He crossed the line to finish 273.4 hard kilometers ahead of Australian runner-up Michael Matthews and third-place finisher van der Poel.
Tadej Pogačar’s Absence and the Fall of the Elite Contenders
The race played out without defending world champion Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia. Pogačar was forced to sit out the defense of his crown due to a crash injury suffered at the Vuelta a España. The day before the race, the Slovenian star took to social media to acknowledge his departure from the title, posting that it was his “first day back, the last day with the rainbow” as he briefly rode in his world champion jersey following a month-long recovery.
Pogačar’s absence left the tactical situation wide open. Remco Evenepoel entered the event as a major favorite just one week after capturing his fourth world time trial title, but the Belgian star faded to 12th place as the relentless climbs of the Montreal circuit dismantled the favorites’ ambitions. Meanwhile, newly crowned Vuelta winner Enric Mas of Spain dropped back unexpectedly early in the race as the pace escalated.
German Squad Secures Single Medal Through Franziska Koch
For the German cycling federation, the world championships concluded with a single podium appearance. Franziska Koch delivered that result on opening day by securing bronze in the individual time trial. In the elite men’s road race, the six-man German contingent featured national champion Felix Engelhardt—who joined an early 16-rider breakaway that built a lead approaching nine minutes before being reeled in—and Florian Lipowitz. Lipowitz, returning to competition following a July crash at the Tour de France and a subsequent broken collarbone, lost contact with the main group roughly 75 kilometers from the finish and finished outside the decisive action.
Post-Race Reactions and Historic Context
An emotional McNulty buried his face in his hands and struck his handlebars before wrapping himself in a U.S. flag and celebrating with his wife, Summer. “I don’t know what to say, it’s like a miracle,” McNulty said through tears, adding that he felt like he “died” during the final 33 kilometers of his solo effort. His victory marks the first time an American has worn the rainbow jersey in the men’s road race since Armstrong’s victory in Oslo, Norway, in 1993.
