"He deserved to win” – Tadej Pogacar explains GP de Montreal gift and looks ahead to world championships

UAE Team Emirates – XRG reached a historic milestone at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, claiming their 85th victory of the 2025 season, equalling the all-time record set by HTC-Columbia in 2009. The UAE winning machine has been a train that has relentlessly gathered momentum in 2025, and an 86th win now seems inevitable. The 85th win came in emphatic style, with Brandon McNulty and Tadej Pogacar riding away from the field to finish side by side, leaving no doubt about the team’s supremacy. What made it even more remarkable was the way Pogacar, the reigning World Champion and the most recognisable rider in the peloton, chose to gift the win to his American teammate.

The decisive moment arrived on Mont Royal. Pogacar launched a fierce attack from the chasing group, quickly bridging across to the front before setting off solo. Behind, McNulty seized his chance, dispatching Quinn Simmons with a well-timed move and riding into Pogacar’s slipstream. The Slovenian didn’t hesitate once he saw his teammate closing in. Instead of pushing on alone, he eased off, allowing McNulty to join him. From there, the pair worked together, riding in complete control and ensuring that their rivals never came close to making the catch. By the time they hit the final lap, it was clear the victory would stay within the team, and the two riders enjoyed a celebratory ride to the finish line.

Afterwards, Pogacar explained the coordination behind the move to Wielerflits. “After the second climb, there was a short, straight descent, and I looked back. I saw someone riding solo 15-20 seconds behind me. I then asked the team management what the situation was, because sometimes I couldn't hear my radio because of the loud crowd. At that moment, I got confirmation that Brandon was about 20 seconds behind me. After that, I waited for him briefly on a short climb, and then we rode together.”

When the two finally linked up, there was little doubt about how the victory would be decided. Pogacar added: “I told Brandon he deserved to win. We only exchanged a few words. We congratulated each other on such a great day. We didn't really have much of a discussion there, haha!”

For McNulty, the gesture turned an already spectacular result into one of the most memorable moments of his career. In the team’s press release, he admitted the significance: “When you go one-two with a teammate, but when he’s World Champion and obviously the best guy in the world, it’s super special. That’s one of the most memorable days of my career so far. We made this move on the climb, and then it ended up a group of four, and then Tadej went [on the attack]. Then I was able to come across, and he waited for me, and he was kind enough to give me the win. So in the final, he decided to give it [the win] to me. So I’m really thankful for that. It was a super fun day.”

Behind the jubilant duo, Simmons fought on to secure third place, but the race itself had long since been decided. UAE’s superiority was absolute, and the victory carried broader significance beyond just one race.

With 85 wins now on the board, the team has matched a record that has stood for over a decade. For Pogacar, however, the focus remains less on numbers and more on maintaining a winning mindset. “We didn’t really think about that much before today, that we had to chase the record for most wins in a year. We just want to win whenever we race, that’s what we do it for. Personally, I don’t count my wins, but we do want to take every opportunity.”

He also reflected on his own condition heading into Canada, having arrived with doubts about his form. “Before coming to Canada, I was a bit worried that my form wasn't great, because I was sick all week leading up to it. I couldn't do all the training as planned. That's why I was a bit apprehensive about this. In Quebec, my legs weren't great, but I raced well there and found some rhythm. In training and in Quebec, I regained my motivation and confidence, and today was another really good day. Looking back, I'm glad I went to Canada.”

For his teammates, the sense of collective achievement was just as important. Adam Yates praised the effort from start to finish. “We worked for this victory from start to finish, and it paid off. We just want to win everywhere, and that was no different in Montreal. We tried in Quebec, but that race was difficult to control.”

Pavel Sivakov echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the historical nature of the season. “It's a historic year for the team, in which we're racing very strongly. We're really making history here.” When asked whether the record was a topic of conversation within the squad, he admitted: “Yes, it was, but it wasn't the main goal. We raced to win; that's why we're at the starting line.”

Pogacar himself underlined the same theme, celebrating the breadth of the team’s success across disciplines and riders. “It’s been a really successful season for the team. A lot of riders have opportunities and when they get them they take them. Almost all our riders have won something this year and it’s a testament to how hard they work. Everybody puts in so much effort and we are just thrilled to have so many wins this year.”

Next, Pogacar will turn his attention to Rwanda, where he aims to defend his rainbow jersey on the road while also targeting the time trial against Remco Evenepoel. For the team, the focus remains the same as it has been all year: win at all costs. Montreal confirmed it once again, no matter the race, no matter the rivals, UAE Team Emirates – XRG only comes to win. And with a lineup of Pogacar, Almeida, Del Toro, McNulty and many others, they have won a ridiculous amount in 2025.