Brandon McNulty pulled off a stunning victory in the men’s elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal. McNulty, 28, surged ahead at the 33-kilometer mark and maintained his lead to finish the race in six hours, 17 minutes, and four seconds.
Reflecting on his win, McNulty expressed disbelief until the final 300 meters, stating, “I’m at a loss for words.” This victory marked the first time an American had claimed an elite road race world title since Lance Armstrong’s triumph in Oslo in 1993.
McNulty attributed his success to the strong teamwork and exceptional performance, describing the win as a miracle. Australian Michael Matthews secured the silver medal, crossing the line in 6:17:17, while Matthew van der Poel of the Netherlands took home the bronze.
Despite facing challenges on the last significant climb, McNulty managed to maintain his lead, with Van der Poel attempting a late attack that ultimately fizzled out. The top Canadian finisher was Michael Leonard from Oakville, who secured 32nd place with a time of 6:23:43.
Fellow Canadians Michael Woods, Nickolas Zukowsky, Pier-André Côté, Guillaume Boivin, and Hugo Houle also participated in the race, with varying results. The absence of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar created a chaotic and unpredictable atmosphere during the 273.4-km course, characterized by enthusiastic fans lining the circuit.
Despite not being a pre-race favorite, McNulty’s victory garnered praise from former world champion Remco Evenepoel and rising talent Paul Seixas. Lance Armstrong congratulated McNulty on his remarkable win, hailing the race as “a thing of beauty.”