Who can beat Brandon McNulty at the Giro dell’Emilia? – Tom Pidcock, Oscar Onley and Tour de France revelation line-up as Italian classics kick off
Cycling
Brandon McNulty lines up at the Giro dell’Emilia this Saturday with a status that just a week ago seemed reserved for others: world champion. The American arrives at the Italian Classic in rainbow bands after delivering one of the season’s major shocks in Montréal, sealing a solo move launched around 33 kilometers from the finish.
The Arizona rider will also debut the rainbow jersey in a particularly demanding race. The Giro dell’Emilia covers 197.9 kilometers between Ferrara and the Santuario di San Luca, with four ascents of the iconic Bolognese climb providing the main stage for a battle that will again pit some of the best punchy finishers against each other.
McNulty starts as one of the leading favorites, but a world title does not guarantee he will rule the Italian autumn. On the contrary, the route and the class of his key rivals will force the American to answer repeated moves before tackling the final ramps of San Luca, where gaps can open in seconds.
Among those likely to challenge him are riders with very different profiles. From Tom Pidcock’s explosiveness to Lenny Martínez’s climbing punch, plus the rise of Giulio Pellizzari, the talent of Oscar Onley, and the versatility of Jhonatan Narváez, McNulty will have several threats to control if he wants to christen the rainbow with another win.
Tom Pidcock in action at the 2026 Montreal World Championships
Tom Pidcock the most unpredictable rival
Tom Pidcock is probably the rider best equipped to rip up the script. The Briton blends an outstanding ability on short, explosive climbs with a knack for racing where favorites mark each other and attacks come in waves. His seventh place at the Montréal Worlds also confirmed he hits the season’s finale ready to compete with the elite.
Variety is his great strength. Pidcock can strike from distance, wait for the final kilometers, or use a burst on San Luca to open a small gap that proves almost impossible to close. On a circuit with four passes of the Bolognese climb, that gear-changing ability could be one of his key weapons.
McNulty also knows he cannot just follow his wheel. The world champion showed in Montréal that he, too, can launch big moves when others begin to fade, but Pidcock is one of the few who can answer that kind of attack and turn a controlled race into a tactical chess match. If the Briton reaches the decisive kilometers with freedom, he will be a real threat to the rainbow.
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Lenny Martínez a threat on San Luca
Lenny Martinez brings a different danger. The Frenchman is one of the most explosive climbers of his generation and thrives on steep gradients, the perfect terrain to make differences. His ability to accelerate on hard ramps and hold high speed in short efforts fits a finish like San Luca.
Martínez does not necessarily need a fully shattered race to be dangerous. On the contrary, he can profit from a reduced group where the favorites arrive with heavy legs after several passes of the key climbs. His changes of pace can force McNulty to spend energy early, especially if other teams harden the race from afar.
The American will need to watch his attacks closely in the final kilometers. If Martínez reaches the last ascent with room to launch, he will force the world champion to respond directly — exactly the scenario rivals might seek to wear him down. His limited sprint is no issue if he goes clear on the final ramps.
Giulio Pellizzari, Italy’s new prospect
Giulio Pellizzari arrives at the Giro dell’Emilia as one of the young riders who has made the biggest gains in the mountains. The Italian stands out as a climber and is increasingly able to compete with top-tier riders in long efforts and demanding finales.
The Marchigiano’s main asset — born in Le Marche — is his ability to sustain a high pace when the race hits the climbs. He does not need a few seconds of pure punch to make gaps: he can exploit accumulated fatigue and turn the final ascent into a test of endurance. In a race like Emilia, where the bunch will be whittled down towards San Luca, that could be decisive.
Pellizzari can also lean on Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s tactics. If he attacks before the last climb and forces UAE to chase, McNulty might have to burn teammates too soon. The more isolated the world champion is in the decisive kilometers, the better Pellizzari’s chances in a one-on-one scenario.
Oscar Onley in the best young rider’s jersey at the Vuelta a España 2026
Oscar Onley's speed and explosiveness
Oscar Onley is another rider capable of doing damage on such a selective route. The Briton has a particularly interesting profile for this kind of classic: he climbs well enough to survive the hardest ascents and is explosive enough to exploit small splits in the final kilometres.
His edge over other climbers and puncheurs may appear precisely when the race turns into a sequence of accelerations. Onley can respond to short moves and keep a high pace after the crest, a trait especially useful on San Luca. He also doesn’t need to arrive solo to have a shot at victory: a reduced group can play to his strengths.
Compared with the rest of the field, he starts behind the top favourites, but that status can become a tactical weapon: being an outsider. If Pidcock, Martínez, or Pellizzari draw more attention, Onley could find the space to attack at the right moment. McNulty will have to prevent the Briton from prising open a few seconds, because on such a short, explosive climb, closing them can be far harder than it looks.
Jhonatan Narváez a specialist in attritional racing
Jhonatan Narváez rounds out the list of threats with a different profile. The Ecuadorian is one of those riders who can perform at a very high level as the race progressively hardens. He has the power to clear demanding ramps, the capacity to sustain intense efforts, and enough experience to judge when to spend a match and when to wait.
His versatility is one of his main arguments. Narváez can jump in a dangerous break, slot into a favourites’ group, or attack when the main contenders start to run out of teammates. In a race of almost 200 kilometres with four passes of San Luca, that endurance can be as valuable as a sharp acceleration.
For McNulty, the Ecuadorian is also a tactical threat. UAE Team Emirates XRG will have to control not only the climbers but also the moves that may unfold before the final ascent. If Narváez reaches San Luca with something left and other favourites neutralise each other, he can be one of those riders able to exploit the confusion. The world champion lines up as favourite, but he will also have to prove he can defend the rainbow within his own team.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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- He wanted to be sole leader in the worlds. He doesn't understand tactics at ll.abstractengineer03-10-2026
- It would be a lovely moment for Slovenian cycling if Pogi got to present a medal to Rogla!Hills3303-10-2026
- Did you see the result of the poll at the end of this article? It says 77% of respondents prefer to witness Tadej's brilliance in a race. Maybe one in four of cycling fans prefer the excitement generated by a bit of mediocrity from the riders? The could've and would've questions give talking points some validity, which become moot and academic if the top rider turned the race into a one-man show.FredMan03-10-2026
- i'll be glad to see the end of him.....
Davide03-10-2026 - Sure Pogi loves you. Hrvat je tat as the Slovenians saymobk03-10-2026
- Maga redneck... shush... capish?PogiSloFans02-10-2026
- My god are you a fool, are you an american redneck? Pogi can't ever get a mental slap. He's the G.O.A.T., he's constantly beating Remco in every race (except the TT)... and he's not even racing in Slovenia. Capish?PogiSloFans02-10-2026
- I think it's unlikely, even with a lot of Slovenian racing. Pogačar wants to win the Tour and has unfinished Vuelta business
Rafionain-Glas02-10-2026 - You're just a stalker fanboy !frieders302-10-2026
- Why was this race so much harder than the elite one?Rafionain-Glas02-10-2026
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