Brandon McNulty emerged as the unexpected victor in the men’s elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal. The 28-year-old took the lead with 33 kilometers remaining and maintained it, crossing the finish line in six hours, 17 minutes, and four seconds.
Reflecting on his win, McNulty expressed his disbelief, stating, “Until the last 300 meters, I really didn’t even believe it. … I was just dying, but I just kept pushing.” McNulty, who had previously won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, became the first American to claim an elite road race world title since Lance Armstrong in 1993.
McNulty praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their strong teamwork and excellent strategy throughout the race. Despite facing challenges on the final climb, he managed to maintain his lead, with Michael Matthews of Australia securing the silver and Matthew van der Poel of the Netherlands taking the bronze.
Canadian riders also participated in the event, with Michael Leonard finishing as the top Canadian in 32nd place. Michael Woods and Nickolas Zukowsky finished 35th and 45th, respectively. Unfortunately, Pier-André Côté, Guillaume Boivin, and Hugo Houle did not finish the race.
The absence of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar due to injury added an element of unpredictability to the race. French rider Paul Seixas, who had previously won bronze in the men’s elite individual time trial, faced challenges during the race, finishing in 15th place.
Former world champion Remco Evenepoel and young talents Isaac del Toro and Seixas had been among the pre-race favorites, making McNulty’s victory all the more surprising. Lance Armstrong congratulated McNulty on his win, describing it as “a thing of beauty.”
