American Brandon McNulty stuns favourites to win world road race title in Montreal

A surprise win in Montreal

American Brandon McNulty, 28, claimed the biggest win of his career on Sunday, taking the UCI Road World Championship road race title in Montreal, Canada. McNulty had not been among the pre-race favourites, yet he outlasted stars such as newly crowned time-trial world champion Remco Evenepoel, Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel and young Mexican Isaac del Toro.

He became the first American since Lance Armstrong — who won in Oslo in 1993 — to take the rainbow jersey. McNulty is also a trade teammate of defending champion Tadej Pogačar, who missed the race while recovering from a heavy crash at the Vuelta a España a month earlier.

A chaotic, attritional race

The race began with a 16-rider breakaway that included German champion Felix Engelhardt; their lead grew to almost nine minutes before shrinking as the race reached Montreal's Mont Royal circuit. Sources differ slightly on the overall distance — Cyclingnews puts it at 273.7km, while German outlet WELT reports 273.4km — and on the number of laps, with Cyclingnews' live coverage indicating 12 laps around the circuit while WELT states 13.

With about 90km remaining, former world champion Mathieu van der Poel launched a decisive move alongside Wout van Aert, American Quinn Simmons and Primož Roglič; the group was caught with 34km left, setting up the finale.

McNulty's solo ride to glory

McNulty made his race-winning attack with roughly 32-33km to go — Cyclingnews' live blog cites 32km, while Cycling Weekly and WELT report 33km. Favourites Paul Seixas, Isaac del Toro and Remco Evenepoel failed to react in time, and McNulty held his advantage to the line despite visibly fading in the closing stages. Australia's Michael Matthews took silver, with van der Poel claiming bronze. Germany's Florian Lipowitz rode courageously on his return from a broken collarbone but was not involved in the medal fight.

The US had built its race around a trio of leaders — Quinn Simmons, Matteo Jorgenson and finally McNulty — each taking turns at the front. Afterwards, McNulty said he was "lost for words," adding: "The last lap I was in zone two, I was just dying, but I kept pushing." He also said he had joked with his wife before the race that only a miracle could bring victory — "today, I guess, miracles do happen."