Brandon McNulty secured a stunning victory at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada, on Sunday, September 27, claiming the men’s elite road race title in 6h17’04’’. The 28-year-old American launched a decisive solo attack with 33 kilometers remaining on the 273.3-kilometer course, holding off a chase group of elite favorites to capture the rainbow jersey. Australia’s Michael Matthews finished second, taking the silver medal 13 seconds back, while the Netherlands’ Mathieu van der Poel claimed bronze in the same time.
How McNulty Outsmarted the Favorites on Mount Royal
The 273-kilometer championship route featured 3,803 meters of vertical gain, built around 12 ascents of the Côte Camillien-Houde (1.6 km at 7.7%) on Mount Royal. After a controlled opening phase covering 103 flat kilometers from Brossard, the race blew apart when Bruno Amirail of France accelerated to animate the peloton and neutralize an early 16-rider breakaway containing Biniam Girmay and Felix Engelhardt.
As the race hit the closing circuits, van der Poel spearheaded multiple aggressive moves, shredding the front group down to contenders like Primož Roglič and Quinn Simmons. A chase group featuring Paul Seixas and Isaac Del Toro eventually bridged the gap to the front of the race. Amid a brief tactical lull as the favorites marked one another, McNulty sensed an opening. The American surged clear with 33 kilometers left, building an advantage that peaked at 53 seconds before withstanding a fierce fightback in the final kilometers.
Ending a Three-Decade Drought for the United States
McNulty’s victory marks a historic milestone for American cycling, ending a 33-year wait for a men’s world road race champion. He joins an elite club as only the third American to capture the rainbow jersey in the discipline, following Greg LeMond (1983 and 1989) and Lance Armstrong (1993). The U.S. national team delivered a stellar collective performance, with Quinn Simmons finishing fourth and Matteo Jorgenson taking eighth.
Normally deployed as a loyal teammate and key rouleur for two-time defending champion Tadej Pogačar at UAE Team Emirates-XRG, McNulty capitalized on his rare opportunity with full team backing. Pogačar was absent from the Montreal start list, leaving the door open for his teammate to orchestrate the biggest triumph of his professional career.
Podium Finishers and Key Contender Results
Behind McNulty’s winning solo ride, the battle for the remaining medals came down to a reduced chase group. Michael Matthews powered to second place to secure silver for Australia, while Mathieu van der Poel rounded out the podium with the bronze medal. Quinn Simmons narrowly missed the podium in fourth place, followed by Isaac Del Toro in fifth.
France’s Paul Seixas rode aggressively near the front for much of the race’s climax before suffering severe cramps in the closing kilometers, ultimately crossing the finish line in 15th place nearly three minutes down. Remco Evenepoel, who captured the individual time trial world title earlier in the week, finished 12th, 25 seconds behind the winner.
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