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Brandon McNulty Won UCI Road World Championships

The American cyclist secured his first major title, ending a decades-long winless streak for the United States.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Cycling

Brandon McNulty Won UCI Road World Championships

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Brandon McNulty captured the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on September 27, 2026. He is the first American rider to claim the title since 1993.

Why it matters

McNulty is the first rider since 1999 to earn his maiden season victory at the world championships. He will now represent the title by wearing the iconic rainbow jersey in professional road races until the 2027 event in Sallanches, France.

McNulty is the first cyclist to achieve a maiden season victory at the world championships since Óscar Freire did so in 1999. The win marks the first U.S. title in the event since 1993.

The players

Brandon McNulty

He is an elite American cyclist who competes for the UAE Emirates professional team.

Tadej Pogačar

He is a prominent professional cyclist who missed the Montreal championship race due to a crash at the Vuelta a España.

UAE Emirates

This is a professional cycling team that manages high-profile riders including McNulty and Pogačar.

The details

Competing in the elite men's field in Montreal, McNulty emerged victorious following a tactical race. He will now transition to an Italian race block for the remainder of the season, stepping into a primary leadership role for UAE Emirates following an injury to teammate Tadej Pogačar.

Timeline

  1. September 27, 2026: Brandon McNulty won the UCI Road World Championships.

  2. October 3, 2026: McNulty debuts the rainbow jersey at the Giro dell'Emilia.

  3. October 10, 2026: McNulty competes in the Il Lombardia race.

  4. October 14, 2026: McNulty competes in the Giro del Veneto.

  5. October 18, 2026: McNulty competes in the Veneto Classic.

Season Trajectory

This victory reshapes the season narrative for UAE Emirates, which lost its primary leader in Pogačar. McNulty now carries the rainbow jersey through the autumn Italian classics, cementing his status as a marquee contender for upcoming international events.

Fans and observers should track McNulty's performance in the upcoming Italian autumn race block, where he holds the sole leadership role for his team. His results in these one-day events will determine his momentum entering the 2027 season.

The takeaway

McNulty successfully ended a 33-year American title drought by securing his first major world championship victory. His performance in the upcoming Italian race block will serve as the final assessment of his season-ending form.

What happens next

McNulty is scheduled to debut his rainbow jersey on October 3, 2026, at the Giro dell'Emilia, followed by appearances at Il Lombardia on October 10, the Giro del Veneto on October 14, and the Veneto Classic on October 18.

Further reading

For more on the national cycling circuit, visit the Cycling section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Velo.

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