Brandon McNulty stuns everyone and is crowned World Champion in Montréal

Brandon McNulty is the new world champion in road cycling. The American took advantage of a completely broken race to attack during one of the few moments of respite and turned a few seconds of lead into the definitive move. Michael Matthews took the silver and Mathieu van der Poel completed the podium, both just 13 seconds behind.

Brandon McNulty conquers the World Championship in Montreal with an attack that no one wanted to follow

The World Championship in Montreal promised to be one of the most open in recent years and ended up confirming it in the most unexpected way. With Tadej Pogačar not at the start and a long list of candidates for the rainbow jersey, the race turned into a battle of attrition where practically none of the favorites managed to impose their script.

Brandon McNulty did find his.

RECOMENDADO

Slovakia runs out of riders and gets its masseur to race at the World Championships

Vollering wins a thrilling World Championships ahead of Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini

Andri Frischknecht announces his retirement from the World Cup but will remain with SCOTT-SRAM

Where to watch the Elite Women’s World Championships live: Vollering vs Kopecky, Reusser, Blasi and Courtney?

Avinox’s biggest rival is starting to hit the market: Gobao now has its first e-MTB

The American attacked when there were still more than 30 kilometers to go, just after a succession of moves had left a high-level group in front with Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas, Giulio Ciccone, Matteo Jorgenson, Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel, Michael Matthews, and McNulty himself.

His acceleration did not initially seem like the most dangerous of the day. No one responded immediately and doubts began to arise behind. The United States also had Jorgenson and Quinn Simmons in the battle, while several riders had conflicting interests within the chasing group. The result was devastating: when McNulty crossed the finish line with two laps to go, his lead had already reached 1:08. And then another race began.

Van der Poel, Del Toro, and Pidcock tried, but McNulty already had a margin

The accumulated toughness of the Mont-Royal circuit had taken its toll long before. About 52 kilometers from the finish, Mathieu van der Poel had attacked on Camillien-Houde, with Quinn Simmons and later Primož Roglič able to accompany him. Evenepoel and Van Aert, meanwhile, began to show difficulties every time the race accelerated.

Isaac Del Toro was also one of the major agitators. His accelerations repeatedly selected the group and ended up putting the two Belgian leaders on the ropes. Even Van der Poel suffered in some of those moves.

But none managed to transform their momentary superiority into a definitive difference.

McNulty appeared precisely when everyone began to watch each other. With the United States perfectly represented behind, the American was able to continue his adventure while the chase lacked continuity.

With one lap to go, the difference was still 53 seconds. Evenepoel then launched a final attack from the chasing group, but it was Del Toro who ended up closing it. Up front, McNulty was still alone.

The race compressed again in the final kilometers. Ciccone and Pidcock accelerated, Van der Poel tried again on the university climb, and the group managed to have the American in sight. The lead dropped to around ten seconds at one of the most critical moments. But doubts returned.

McNulty found the margin he needed to reach the final kilometers still solo, and when the desperate attacks began behind, it was already too late.

After 6:17:04 of racing and an average of 43.504 km/h, Brandon McNulty crossed the finish line in Montreal alone to become world champion.

Michael Matthews wins silver and Van der Poel takes bronze

Behind, there were still two medals to be awarded, and the chase ended up grouping practically under the banner of the last kilometer.

Michael Matthews took advantage of his speed to win the sprint for silver by 13 seconds, while Mathieu van der Poel finished third with the same time, adding another world podium to his record.

Quinn Simmons completed an extraordinary American race finishing fourth, while Isaac Del Toro was fifth, 14 seconds behind. Mads Pedersen, Tom Pidcock, Matteo Jorgenson, Giulio Ciccone, and Ben Healy completed the top ten.

For Remco Evenepoel, however, there was no medal. The newly crowned world time trial champion suffered repeatedly when the race intensified in the final laps. He lost contact several times and, although he managed to return and even attack with one lap to go, he could not complete the double he was chasing.

Spain also failed to place any rider in the Top 10. Enric Mas is listed among the abandonments in the information provided, while Juan Ayuso was present for a good part of the decisive phase, including the chasing group when three laps remained.

Top 10 World Road Cycling Championship 2026

1. Brandon McNulty (United States) — 6:17:04
2. Michael Matthews (Australia) — +0:13
3. Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) — +0:13
4. Quinn Simmons (United States) — +0:13
5. Isaac Del Toro (Mexico) — +0:14
6. Mads Pedersen (Denmark) — +0:14
7. Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) — +0:14
8. Matteo Jorgenson (United States) — +0:14
9. Giulio Ciccone (Italy) — +0:14
10. Ben Healy (Ireland) — +0:14

McNulty had said before the start that Montreal was one of his favorite circuits. Hours later, he found exactly the moment he needed to turn it into the stage for the most important victory of his career.