"I received all sorts of threats from Colombia" - Rasmussen faces severe backlash after criticism of new world champion
Cycling
Brandon McNulty's world title was quite the surprising turn of events. From a regular rider at world's strongest team UAE Team Emirates - XRG into the rainbow jersey traditionally reserved for "the best cyclist in the world" - that's almost like a fairy tale. But Michael Rasmussen made it clear that he fears to see the special kit being put to work as a domestique next year. These comments earned him some unwanted attention.
To say that Brandon McNulty was not exactly the rider who was expected to claim the world title in Montréal, that might be an understatement. The 28-year-old entered the race as part of the wider range of contenders for a good result, but the American national team played its cards perfectly, allowing McNulty to raise his hands at the finish.
The rainbow jersey therefore doesn't leave UAE Team Emirates - XRG structure for a third season in a row, even in Tadej Pogacar's absence. But the shocking part is that it wasn't his pupil Isaac del Toro to defend the throne.
McNulty is normally not among the most stand-out names at the Emirati team's roster where talent is not scarce. And even with the rainbow jersey on his shoulders, it's unlikely that McNulty would suddenly move up the team hierarchy. This is particularly why ex-professional Michael Rasmussen fears an "unsightly scenario" where the world champion will be put to work rather early into stages
"It’s going to be extremely uncool seeing him in the world champion’s jersey sitting third-last in the UAE train with his pockets full of water bottles, then pulling off when the two stars are about to start racing for the win," Rasmussen said after the race.
Brandon McNulty in rainbow jersey
Words torn out of context
Rasmussen's comments made it around the globe and back. Quite unexpectedly, the harshest feedback came from South American audience. Or more precisely, the Colombian cycling fans who have not taken the criticism very well.
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"Apparently someone has put that into Google Translate. It has ended up on all sorts of sites around the world, including ESPN in South America. So I have had all sorts of threats from Colombia pouring into my mailbox," Rasmussen says on Viaplay Sports News. He doesn't take it too seriously, though. "It's quite classic. If you don't see things in context, it can look a bit harsher in writing, says the cycling expert."
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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