Brandon McNulty wins UCI Road World Championship road race

American cyclist Brandon McNulty won the men's elite road race at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal. McNulty, a rider for UAE Team Emirates, secured the title by launching a solo breakaway with approximately 33 kilometers remaining in the race. He finished 13 seconds ahead of Australia's Michael Matthews, while Mathieu van der Poel took third place.

This victory marks the first time an American man has won the men's road race world title since Lance Armstrong in 1993. McNulty, who previously won the junior world time trial title ten years ago, described the win as a “miracle” after navigating a complex and grueling course that lasted over six hours.

Following his victory, McNulty is expected to compete in several Italian classics, including the Giro dell'Emilia, Tre Valli Varesine, and Il Lombardia, while wearing the rainbow jersey. The win has also sparked discussions within the cycling community regarding tactical efficiency versus pure power, as well as renewed debates concerning doping transparency following comments from former professional Eric Boyer.