"I really wanted a medal so it's a bit bittersweet" - Brandon McNulty narrowly misses out in Olympic ITT

The big American hope for medals in the men's individual time trial at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Brandon McNulty put in an admirable performance on Saturday afternoon, but eventually had to settle for fifth behind the big four pre race favourites.

“I think up until maybe earlier this year, I'd be excited with fifth, but I had a good ride, like top four worlds last year, and a few wins this year, and I really focused on this," the 26-year-old of UAE Team Emirates reflected afterwards in conversation with Cycling News. "I did my best, but in my heart, I really wanted a medal so it's a bit bittersweet. I should be happy with top five but I was aiming for more.”

As mentioned, pre race, the big four of Remco Evenepoel, Filippo Ganna, Wout van Aert and Joshua Tarling were all considered the most viable gold medal hopefuls and, in that order no less, they claimed the top 4 positions at the finish line, with the world individual time trial champion Evenepoel adding an Olympic gold to his ever growing palmares.

The conditions were hardly ideal however, with the rain falling and the roads incredibly slippery, not that McNulty is making any excuses about his failure to crack the medal podium. “We deal with rain all year. Everyone kind of has the same conditions," he explains. "Luckily the favourites were all within five minutes of each other, so it's not like it changed much. It was fair for the day.”

The American will now turn his attentions back to the World Tour and one big goal in particular for the remainder of the year. “This wasn't the only thing I've left," he concludes. "I have the Vuelta and some other races to go for, just the beginning of the second half of the year."