"I feel like the races pass faster" - Rainbow mood carries Brandon McNulty onto a podium in Italy
Cycling
One week has passed since Brandon McNulty's fantastic ride into the rainbow jersey in Montréal, but the American continues to carry himself on a high. After a top-10 in Giro dell'Emilia, the new world champion climbed onto the podium at Coppa Agostoni (1.1), coming short of only Paul Lapeira.
Last Sunday, McNulty had become United States' first world champion since Lance Armstrong's (tainted, but not stripped) title in 1993. Or if you prefer, since Greg Lemond's second victory in 1989. For it to happen on North American soil made the triumph all the more sweet.
"For sure it is still settling in, with the jersey and everything," McNulty said on team website after Coppa Agostoni.
The Italian one-day race was opened with long-range attacks very early. Eventually, a compact group formed up the road and navigated the race towards a six-way sprint where French puncheur Paul Lapeira was the fastest ahead of McNulty and Andera Raccagni Noviero.
Afterwards, McNulty admitted that the kilometers in the saddle during 2026 season (~8,500 to the day) are finally starting to be felt in his legs, but that he wishes to finish the season off at Il Lombardia in style.
"Today was good, I am still a bit fatigued from last week and also yesterday I went super hard. It was a really hard race and I was happy to be there in the final, and then sprints can go one way or the other, so I am happy with the efforts today."
Rainbow wings
In any case, McNulty describes the rainbow jersey as having brought some extra energy into the final push of the season. Suddenly, hours in the saddle feel a bit easier than in the past months.
"It is super special [being the world champion]. I feel like the races pass faster, I don’t really think about kilometres to go anymore. Hopefully that continues! Perhaps it will wear off and I will go back to suffering, but the last two days have been so special. Everybody has been very supportive and I have had so many people come up to me to congratulate me, so I want to say thank you to everybody."
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Barring late changes, McNulty's season should include two more starts. First comes Tre Valli Varesine on Tuesday where he'll be joined by Jhonatan Narváez. And finally on Saturday, the highlight of October arrives in the form of Il Lombardia.
Without Tadej Pogacar among their ranks, UAE will have to rely on other men to defend the Slovenian's five consecutive titles. Next to McNulty, we should see Isaac del Toro spearhead the nomination for "the Classic of Fallen leafs".
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- For someone as good as you say, his top results as per pcs pale into comparison with Evenepoel’s, as for jerseys, he might run out of anything to wear soon. Perhaps tell your boy’s boy to get some flesh on his resumé before ridiculing yourself. PS (not the rider) this is criticism of YOU, not him.Jumpyjohn04-10-2026
- Yes Mouguel, thank you, we understand it’s important to you.Jumpyjohn04-10-2026
- Why are you reading post race comments if you want to keep the suspense? Do you do this with election results too? Next time, maybe think of warning us not to post until you’re ready.Jumpyjohn04-10-2026
- If you’d have created alias26 that might have worked or have you noticed anyone taking you seriously here?Jumpyjohn04-10-2026
- Del Toro is not even close to Remco, not in a single metric. But he may be within he next couple of years.awp04-10-2026
- Who knows, he may never reach his top level after this accident. Nothing else to prove and retirement may be the best option at this point
Front24204-10-2026 - With the injuries he has, it's probably best not to rush back, so it's ok if is form is poor for a while.Hills3304-10-2026
- He will come back next year and smoke everyone we all know it. With vengeance. The worriying part is that noone can beat UAE even when pogacar is hurt, other teams and captains cant beat Pogacaer domestiques lol...Montreal and WC was insane and if were honest how on the world can anyone beat pogacar on that team when noone can even beat his teammates. Del Toro is probably 2 best overall rider in world already.. Absolutely crazy team..miguel04-10-2026
- A deserved win by the Aero Bullet. I know he isn’t loved by all cycling fans, but I for one am looking forward to seeing him in the European bands! Chapeau Remco.anonymouscyclist04-10-2026
- Bro he just barely won after silly crash and no tactics and more importantly no Pogi or other top riders. If he wants to give middle finger, he can do so to assuage his ego. But facts remain facts. Beat Pogi and other top riders in important races and then no need to give any middle finger at all, actions speak louder than wordsabstractengineer04-10-2026
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