A stunning victory in Montreal saw Brandon McNulty become the first American winner of the men’s road race world title in 33 years. The 28-year-old put his hands on his head in disbelief as he crossed the line 13 seconds clear of the chasing pack. He completed the gruelling 273.4km course in six hours and 17 minutes.
The runner-up spot went to Australian Michael Matthews, while Mathieu van der Poel, the previous champion from the Netherlands, finished in third. The last time an American claimed the win was when Lance Armstrong took the race in 1993.
At the end of the race, McNulty’s own words explained how big his achievement felt to him. He admitted he did not believe it had happened until the final 800m, and he added that he was at a loss for words. He knew something could happen, but said it would take a miracle, and then guessed that today a miracle had happened.
The Attack That Changed the Race
The final push began when McNulty made his move at the 30km mark of the race. By the time he reached the last lap, he had opened up a 50-second advantage.
The pursuit was unrelenting. McNulty showed signs of fatigue on the last ascent, and his advantage shrunk to a mere 10 seconds. Still, the group behind could not catch him.
McNulty’s Unassuming Path to Glory
An unassuming and occasionally timid American emerged as the clear favorite among the winners of what was without question one of the season’s most outstanding races.
A time triallist and domestique by trade, McNulty’s role is usually to help other riders rather than to win on his own. That experience made him the ideal choice for a course this long, since the riders who attacked too early were left with empty legs later in the race.
Talents gathered thick on the field. Van der Poel had already claimed this race’s prize. Evenepoel, Van Aert, Seixas and Pidcock were present too, all striving to break away from each other amid gradually yellowing Canadian maples.
McNulty waited rather than rushed, letting the favourites exhaust themselves before he moved, taking advantage of a field that had been thinned by distance.
The Numbers Behind the Victory
- Distance: 273.4km
- Time: six hours and 17 minutes
- Lead at the line: 13 seconds
- McNulty’s lead at 30km to go: 50 seconds
- McNulty’s lead on the final climb: 10 seconds
How the Race Was Won
- McNulty launched his attack going into the final 30km.
- He built a 50-second lead heading into the last lap.
- On the final climb, his lead narrowed to 10 seconds.
- The chasing pack were unable to catch him.
- McNulty crossed the line 13 seconds clear of the field.
What the Win Means
American cycling has reached a significant milestone. The most recent time an American man claimed the world road race championship was when Lance Armstrong won in 1993, and that record now stands behind him.
An American has proven he can compete with the best in the sport, and his win carries a message beyond the race itself. McNulty’s triumph provides the nation with a new figure to look up to, someone whose success demonstrates what an American competitor can achieve on the global stage.
The moment was perfectly timed. McNulty watched as the leading riders pushed their advantage too soon, then answered the call when the course called for it. His margin widened to 50 seconds prior to the last lap, and he kept it intact through the steep ascent even as his effort showed clear signs of strain.
The words he spoke after crossing the finish line speak to the size of his achievement. He said he did not believe until the final 800m, and that he was at a loss for words, knowing something could happen but it would take a miracle, and guessing today a miracle happened.
The Race’s Long Season
A long season produced a race that stood out as one of its finest moments. A deep field and a punishing course made for an intense contest, and the victor turned out to be a man whose doubts were silenced by his own performance.
The road to the top step did not belong to McNulty according to expectations. A time triallist and domestique by trade, he is a rider whose role is usually to serve others rather than to chase victory alone. That experience made him the ideal man for a course this long, because those who attacked too early found themselves paying for it with empty legs.
A win that had not belonged to American cycling for 33 years came down to endurance rather than pure speed over 273km. McNulty saved his energy for the final push, and the result was a championship that had been missing from the sport for a long time.
The last American man to win the road race world title was Lance Armstrong, who did so in 1993. McNulty has now put an end to that gap, and his victory came with a display that left him struggling to find the right words to describe it.
The striking part is the route he took to get there. He watched as the front runners pushed forward too soon, then seized his moment when the course called for it. His advantage widened to 50 seconds before the final circuit, and he kept it during the ascent even though he showed signs of weariness. Nobody from behind managed to close the gap on him, and he finished 13 seconds ahead of everyone else.
American cycling has reason to feel hopeful now. McNulty demonstrated what patience and endurance can accomplish, doing so on a course that tested everyone else.
Source material: “McNulty first US world road race winner in 33 years,” the BBC.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.