Is Brandon McNulty’s World Championships win the biggest upset of the century? - Three biggest surprise rainbow jersey winners
CyclingTuesday, 29 September 2026 at 14:00
The World Championships have delivered several conclusions in recent years that defied pre-race forecasts. The latest came in Montreal, where Brandon McNulty claimed the rainbow jersey after attacking with 32 kilometers to go and soloing to the world title.
The American’s triumph marks another break in the recent dominance shown by some of the sport’s biggest names. Tadej Pogacar, absent this year after his crash at La Vuelta, Remco Evenepoel, Mathieu van der Poel, and Julian Alaphilippe, who retired after the last Tour de France, had formed the core of the favorites in recent championships.
A deserved winner in an attritional race, the UAE rider capitalised on hesitancy among the big favourites after the race re-grouped in the kilometres before he set off in a solo pursuit of glory.
McNulty is not, however, the only rider to have ripped up the script in recent seasons. Other Worlds have also crowned unexpected champions and delivered finales where headline favorites watched the rainbow slip from their grasp.
Brandon McNulty seals a historic exhibition win in Montréal © UCI
Rui Costa stuns Valverde and Purito in Florence
One of the most memorable examples came at the 2013 Worlds in Florence. Portugal’s Rui Costa took the title after winning the final showdown against Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodríguez, who settled for silver and bronze respectively.
The race left a particularly bitter taste for Spanish cycling, which had two riders poised to fight for gold in the decisive kilometers. Rui Costa had the last word in that duel and pulled on the rainbow jersey in an edition where Philippe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara, and Cadel Evans also started among the favorites.
Valverde and Purito stood on the podium, but their medals could not hide Spain’s missed chance at the world title.
Kwiatkowski springs the upset in Ponferrada
A year later, the Worlds in Ponferrada produced another unexpected finish. Michal Kwiatkowski surprised the favorites with a solo attack that opened a decisive gap and carried him to the rainbow jersey.
The Pole had shown top form throughout that season. In 2014 he won the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana, the Volta ao Algarve, and Strade Bianche, finished second at the Tour of the Basque Country, third at La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and second at the Tour of Britain.
Even so, in Ponferrada he outfoxed a group stacked with some of the world’s biggest names. Alejandro Valverde had to settle for bronze, while Philippe Gilbert, Greg Van Avermaet, and Fabian Cancellara, among others, missed out on the title. Kwiatkowski then wore the rainbow jersey throughout the 2015 season.
Michal Kwiatkowski at the 2026 Tour de Pologne
Pedersen prevails in Yorkshire’s agonizing finale
The 2019 Worlds in Yorkshire crowned another rider who ripped up the odds. Mads Pedersen won a razor-thin sprint over Matteo Trentin and Stefan Küng to take the rainbow jersey.
The Dane had already shown he could deliver big results, with second at the 2018 Tour of Flanders and several wins in smaller races. In Yorkshire, though, he faced a lineup led by some of the peloton’s biggest hitters.
Peter Sagan, Alejandro Valverde, Julian Alaphilippe, Mathieu van der Poel, Greg Van Avermaet, and Philippe Gilbert were among the marquee names in that race. Pedersen beat them all and produced one of the most surprising finishes at recent Worlds.
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The 2026 World Championships in Montreal add another name to this list. Brandon McNulty broke the script with a long-range move that proved decisive. The American attacked with 32 kilometers to go and rode away alone to win the world title.
His victory comes in an era defined by dominant favorites such as Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and Mathieu van der Poel. Pogacar could not defend his chances in Montreal after crashing at La Vuelta, while Evenepoel and Van der Poel again topped most pre-race previews.
McNulty’s attack completely reshaped the race and let the American don the rainbow. His win now sits alongside those of Rui Costa, Kwiatkowski, and Pedersen as standout examples from recent years when the Worlds crowned a rider who defied the odds.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- Arrogance and bad tactics are not the same thing. MVDP and Wout were mistaken to go so early, but surely did so less out of arrogance than concern that the climber-types would drop them late if they just sat on. Lots of experts thought the same thing, including Wout's coach, who said so publicly. Sadly for them, it turned out that the classics stars did quite well and the early attacks were counterproductive. As for the late group, they were all cooked. Pidcock gave it a go the last time up the big hill; after that they were all cooked and it was every man for himself. And those who had some small bit of energy left were immediately marked by Jorgensen. So no, this was not arrogance. It was about top riders guessing wrong about the strategy for the day, and a deep USA team that played their cards masterfully. Whether McNulty was "the strongest" is irrelevant; he crossed the line first by being the best racer, which is the only thing that matters.MidnightRider29-09-2026
- Maybe better tactics after Bruno’s massive turn would have been to keep the remaining riders around Seixas to help him, rather than just letting them make their own short lived attacks.Lozza29-09-2026
- Urska recently proved that one bad crash can be followed by another, with injuries to exactly the same area. Pogi should not risk it.Hills3329-09-2026
- Unfortunately del Toro and Seixas spent too much time watching and marking out each other instead of other dangerous riders.Lozza29-09-2026
- RTV SLO: "Today, the Slovenian national team for the home European Cycling Championships will be announced. Tadej Pogačar may even be included on the list." Pogi wants to race, UAE don't want him to race. I personally agree with the UAE bosses, Pogi has nothing more to prove this year... but ... Pogi is feeling good. He doesn't need to be 100% and can still win. Maybe use the ECC as a preparation for Il Lombardia, the last Monument. The only thing that worries me is him crashing hard again. It could be a catastrophe. I just hope Pogi and his team make the right decision.PogiSloFans29-09-2026
- @abstractengineer said: "The difference between Del Toro and Pogi was never more evident at the WC in Montreal." I agree with him, we can't compare Pogi and Del Toro. But the fact is Del Toro didn't have a good team and was left by himself. On the other hand, the Belgians had the best team, but Remco and Wout also got nothing. ZERO!!! It was pathetic and sad watching both of them, Wout in front, Remco behind him, both struggling and out of breath. Why, I don't know, there is absolutely no excuse. I repeat myself "NO EXCUSE"!!! The Belgians were the biggest losers in Montreal.PogiSloFans29-09-2026
- Hey buddy! You're in no position to give me warnings... capish? As for politics in cycling, Quinn Simmons did it to himself in the 2020 controversy of his racism: A cycling journalist had criticized supporters of Donald Trump and asked them to unfollow her. Simmons replied “bye” with a waving-hand emoji using a Black skin tone. When another user asked whether he was a Trump supporter, Simmons replied that he was and always will be, accompanied by a U.S. flag emoji. The Black-hand emoji was interpreted as being racist or as an example of “digital blackface.” ... Trek-Segafredo (that's what they were called at that time) responded very strongly, saying his statements were “divisive, incendiary, and detrimental” to the team and suspended him from racing until further notice. The suspension was eventually lifted. Simmons subsequently went through diversity/inclusion education and media training. Trek described this as part of an ongoing effort. Hey, buddy, you got that now???PogiSloFans29-09-2026
- well one team did not lose control, largely due to mvdp and simmon’s strength. i wonder if in hindsight, mvdp might rethink his tactics. i wonder if he indeed would have been strong enough to stay with all the climbers if he had waited a bit longer….og29-09-2026
- commenters comment like well why didn’t they just bridge across, or cover brandon’s move…. i don’t think you know what it’s like to be that gassed at the end of such a brutally long slugfest…. and mcnulty was probably freshest and his one attack looked initially stronger than any of the recent prior attacks, imo.og29-09-2026
- Another young guy putting too much pressure on himself. At only 22 he has time in his favour.Lozza29-09-2026
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