“Today was my last chance” – Brandon McNulty seals first rainbow jersey victory with shades of Montreal in dramatic 2026 season finale
Cycling
Brandon McNulty had one final opportunity to win in the rainbow jersey before his 2026 season came to an end, and the newly crowned world champion made sure he took it. Three weeks after claiming the world road race title in Montreal, the American celebrated his first victory in cycling's most recognisable jersey with a late solo triumph at the Veneto Classic.
The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider dropped Anthon Charmig with approximately 10 kilometres remaining on the road to Bassano del Grappa, securing the 24th professional victory of his career.
"It's really special to win in the rainbow jersey," McNulty said after the finish. "I really wanted to win a race before the end of the season, and today was my last chance to do that, so I'm very happy."
McNulty had wasted little time putting his new colours on display after winning the world title on 27 September. He finished tenth on his rainbow jersey debut at the Giro dell'Emilia before taking second at the Coppa Agostoni the following day, continuing an aggressive run through the Italian autumn classics without quite managing to add another victory.
"Everyone keeps a close eye on you"
Before Il Lombardia, McNulty had spoken to Cycling News about wanting to honour the rainbow jersey rather than feeling burdened by the expectations attached to it. His approach to racing had remained aggressive, but the attention from his rivals was something he had already noticed.
"I think when you wear this jersey, everyone keeps a close eye on you, so it's different from usual," he explained after Sunday's victory.
At the Veneto Classic, McNulty had plenty of support when a powerful 21-rider group moved clear of the peloton. UAE placed Filippo Baroncini, Benoît Cosnefroy and Pavel Sivakov alongside their world champion, while Christian Scaroni, Marc Hirschi and Diego Ulissi were among the other established names making the selection.
McNulty's first acceleration came with approximately 64 kilometres remaining, before further attacks eventually left him alone at the front with Charmig. The pair steadily extended their advantage over the chasers, but the American had one final move left as the race approached the unpaved Diesel Farm sector.
"The team was really strong and did everything perfectly," McNulty said. "I knew Diesel Farm was the hardest climb, so I had to give it everything there. It worked out well, so it was perfect."
His acceleration with 10 kilometres remaining finally distanced Charmig, and by the final six kilometres McNulty had established a 20-second advantage that continued to grow as he headed towards Bassano del Grappa.
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A familiar face waiting at the finish
Among those waiting to congratulate McNulty was his wife, with the pair able to share another memorable finish-line celebration less than a month after his World Championships triumph in Canada. "It was special to be able to celebrate with my wife at the finish line, just like in Canada," he said. "It's always nice when she's there at the finish."
That moment brought McNulty's racing season to a close, with the American now looking forward to a break before preparations begin for 2027. "Now I'm going to take some time to rest," he said, with team training camps to follow as he prepares for the next campaign.
After his extended spell racing through the Italian autumn, McNulty's immediate priority is recovery before returning to work with UAE Team Emirates - XRG ahead of his first full season as world champion.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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