"Maybe Tadej will have to ride for me" - Pogacar to turn domestique as UAE teammate Brandon McNulty takes his rainbow jersey
CyclingTuesday, 29 September 2026 at 13:15
UAE Team Emirates - XRG have a welcome headache on their hands as the Montreal World Championships saw them keep hold of the rainbow jersey. They had one of the favourites among their ranks in Isaac del Toro, but after an exhilerating race, Brandon McNulty kept the prestigious title close to home.
Tadej Pogacar had won the previous two world titles before injury ended his chances of three in a row, and while Mexican champion del Toro seemed their best shot at filling the void, American Brandon McNulty stepped up to the plate.
The USA rider attacked the favourites with 32 kilometres to go, just minutes after many of the contenders had caught up with Mathieu van der Poel - who had been wreaking havoc at the front of affairs. The opportunistic move turned out to be a winning ticket for McNulty, who joined the squad in 2020.
A vital Tour de France domestique to Pogacar, McNulty now could demand additional opportunities at the squad as world champion. While under no illusions that the Slovenian will remain the leader of the team, McNulty couldn't help but joke that Pogacar may prove to be his domestique on some days in the future.
"Maybe Tadej will have to ride for me a few days," McNulty joked after the race, Cycling Weekly reported.
Brandon McNulty after the 2026 Montreal World Championships
Pogacar congratulates McNulty
The former world champion took to social media soon after to congratulate McNulty following the remarkable 32 kilometre solo attack.
“The King of Montreal. Proud of you, Brandon,” Pogacar posted on Instagram after watching McNulty complete a stunning solo victory in Sunday's elite men's road race.
There was more history behind the message than a simple teammate congratulations, with the pair having already shared one of the most memorable moments of their partnership on the same Montreal circuit just 12 months earlier.
At the 2025 GP Montreal, Pogacar had attacked clear before waiting for McNulty, allowing the pair to ride the closing kilometres together before the American crossed the line first.
Read also
McNulty lost for words after win
The American was lost for words in his post-race interview in the immediate aftermath. XXX
"I'm really at a loss," McNulty admitted in his immediate post-race television interview. "Until the last 300 metres I really didn't believe it. I was so tired. The last time up Mont-Royal I was just dying. I kept pushing and... I don't know."
"We said for weeks that we have a super strong team and anything's possible," McNulty said. "We rode crazy well; marked everything; had guys ahead. I'm seriously at a loss for words."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- 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
- Demi's win in the Women's Race, for all the excitement, finished as per the script. This one was one of the few - Alison Jackson's win at PR also comes to mind - that gives hope to all domestiques and breakaway riders that one day, their turn will come and they will achieve their dream.Cooldude29-09-2026
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