Brandon McNulty wins World Championships road race in Montreal

Brandon McNulty delivered a stunning solo triumph at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, seizing the elite men's road race gold medal and securing the United States' first elite men's rainbow jersey in the discipline in over three decades, according to Cyclingnews.

The race spanned a grueling 273.4 kilometres of relentless attrition, culminating on Sunday, September 27, 2026, as reported by Jen. McNulty launched an opportunistic and powerful move from the front with 32km left to race, slipping away from the favourites and eventually arriving alone at the finish line in a state of absolute disbelief. His winning effort followed a fourth-place finish in the event's individual time trial earlier in the week, cementing a monumental fortnight of racing that also saw teammate Matteo Jorgenson protect the American interests from the chasing pack.

Media additions

The grueling course lived up to its billing as an open and chaotic spectacle. Absent from the starting grid was the reigning champion Tadej Pogačar, who missed the Canadian showcase due to a fractured collarbone sustained following a high-speed crash during Stage 8 of the Vuelta a España, which required season-ending surgery as detailed by FloBikes. In Pogačar's absence, a revolving door of breakaways animated the early hours, featuring aggressive riding from elite contenders including Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock.

As the race narrowed down into the final laps, tactical jockeying intensified. McNulty seized his moment during a tactical lull following a series of regroupings, quickly carving out an advantage that stretched toward a minute. Despite suffering on the final ascent of the iconic Voie Camillien-Houde climb—where he admitted he was operating purely in "zone two" and simply dying on the pedals—the American rider managed to preserve just enough buffer to deny the chasers.

"Honestly I don't know. Really this is – I don't know. I'm really at a loss. Until the last 100 metres I really didn't even believe it I was so tired. I mean, I don't know, I really don't know,"

Brandon McNulty, World Champion, via Cyclingnews

Behind the lone leader, the fight for the remaining podium spots descended into a chaotic sprint from a reduced chasing group. Australia's Michael Matthews powered through to secure the silver medal, while the Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel claimed the bronze, crossing the line alongside other prominent attackers in the chasing group as noted by Cycling Weekly.

The historic victory ends a long-standing drought for the United States men's program. The last American to wear the coveted rainbow jersey in the elite men's road race was Lance Armstrong, who triumphed in Oslo, Norway. McNulty's resilience on the road builds upon a storied career trajectory that included junior and U23 successes, strong performances at events like the Tour of Spain as highlighted in USA Cycling archives, and navigating the demanding pressures of elite international competition.

With the 2026 UCI Road World Championships concluding in Montreal, attention in the professional peloton now shifts toward the final historic monuments of the European autumn calendar, including the upcoming Il Lombardia.