Brandon McNulty wins 2026 road world title in Montreal solo
American attacks 32 km out to become first U.S. men's champion since Lance Armstrong in 1993.
KEY POINTS
- Brandon McNulty (USA) wins 2026 world road race title in Montreal
- Solo attack at 32 km to go; wins by ~20 seconds over Matthews and Van der Poel
- First American men's champion since Lance Armstrong in 1993
- Paul Seixas (France) cracks to 16th after early prominence; cites cramps and nutrition error
- Race: 273 km, 3,800 m elevation; Tadej Pogacar absent (injury)
Brandon McNulty of the United States won the elite men's road race at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday. The UAE Team Emirates rider attacked solo with 32 kilometres remaining and held off the chasing favourites over the final laps of the Mont Royal circuit.
McNulty crossed the line 20 seconds ahead of a reduced peloton. Michael Matthews of Australia took silver and Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands bronze after outsprinting Quinn Simmons for third place. The race covered 273 kilometres with more than 3,800 metres of elevation gain.
“In the final metres I couldn't believe it. I don't know what to say. The last climb of Mont Royal, I thought I was going to die on the bike.”
McNulty became the third American man to wear the rainbow jersey after Greg LeMond (1983, 1989) and Lance Armstrong (1993). His trade teammate Isaac del Toro had been among the favourites marking each other in the final kilometres, allowing McNulty's move to gain critical time.
French hope Paul Seixas, who had been prominent in the lead group earlier, faded to 16th place. The 19-year-old told France TV after the finish that he had suffered cramps and mismanaged his nutrition and hydration, calling it a "beginner's mistake."
Canada's Guillaume Boivin animated the early breakaway on home soil but was absorbed before the decisive circuits. Michael Woods rode his final professional race for the host nation. Tadej Pogacar did not start after a season-ending crash at the Vuelta a Espana.
5 more sources below
COMMENTS (0)
No comments yet. Be the first.
RELATED STORIES
McNulty Wins Solo at Worlds, First US Title Since 1993
American Brandon McNulty attacks 32km out to claim rainbow jersey in Montreal as favourites falter.
Pogacar Absent, Wide-Open Battle for Rainbow Jersey at Montreal Worlds
With two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar sidelined by injury, Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro, and Tom Pidcock headline a deep field for Sunday's elite men's road race.
Evenepoel Wins Fourth Consecutive World Time Trial Title in Montreal
Belgian champion Remco Evenepoel dominates the 39.2 km course to claim historic fourth straight rainbow jersey, finishing 57 seconds ahead of Filippo Ganna.
This page was compiled with AI assistance from the outlets named above and passed an automated language check before publication. Montegre has no reporters of its own; the byline names the outlets the story was compiled from. Method and editorial standards