Brandon McNulty switches attention after taking maiden Giro d'Italia stage win: "Now we can focus on João"

UAE Team Emirates's 25-year-old American Brandon McNulty was a brilliant winner on stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia, taking the first Grand Tour stage win of his career. Now, he switches his focus to helping teammate João Almeida.

"It's indescribable, it was my goal when I got here and I got sick in the time trial, I didn't know what was going to happen so I'm very happy," says McNulty in his post-stage interview following the conclusion of the stage in which the American edged out Ben Healy and Marco Frigo for the win. "I tried to go solo on the long climb, but Ben was very strong, so I I stayed at the wheel, rested and then we played a bit during the flat part and in the end we risked it in the sprint"

The Italian, Frigo nearly stole the victory as he came roaring from behind to and took the lead in the final few hundred metres. With Healy quickly onto his wheel, McNulty was able use the slipstream and power his way to victory.

"I knew that Frigo was coming at the right time, what I did was attack with 200 meters to go once he attacked," he continues. "We have come here for the general classification, but also to win a stage, we have already achieved it and now we can focus on João. He looks very good here."