"With Tadej on the team, we have the best rider in the world, but..." - UAE confirm McNulty's interest for 2027 Tour
Cycling
Brandon McNulty has won the 2026 Montréal World Championships and has earned himself a spot closer to the top of the ranks at UAE Team Emirates - XRG. In an interview with Daniel Benson, team manager Joxean Matxín Fernández has confirmed the American is also keen on returning to the Tour de France.
"We’ve discussed next year, and Brandon is keen to return to the Tour de France," the Spanish manager said. This summer, McNulty rode in aid of Pogacar at the Tour, proving to be a quality domestique in all terrains.
It is not the first time he supported the Slovenian at the Grand Boucle, having been an important piece of his victory back in 2021; whilst his performances in the Pyrenees at the 2022 Tour edition will live on in the memory of many.
McNulty, a classics specialist and time trialist, has won the Montréal World Championships as a result of his endurance, climbing power and also ability to sustain long-range moves. At the Tour, his tactical knowhow may not be as important as in the one-day races, but he would always be an important part of the Emirati team.
"I’ve always considered Brandon one of the best riders in the world," Matxin added, with the triumph in Canada proving the American's ability beyond the expectations of many.
Brandon McNulty with the rainbow jersey at Il Lombardia
"With Tadej on the team, we have the best rider in the world, but Brandon still wants to be part of the Tour squad," Matxín confirmed.
"We’ll talk more in December—not just about the Tour, but about other Grand Tours as well." The team's media day will take place on the 18th of December, the day after the goals and schedules of Team Visma | Lease a Bike will be revealed.
Might McNulty get freedom at a Grand Tour in 2027?
Matxin's words however hint at potentially more than just a supporting role at a Grand Tour. Isaac del Toro enjoyed a work-free Tour de France this summer as Pogacar dominated the Tour de France.
The same could potentially happen next summer, but with the American instead. "Look back at the 2025 Giro d’Italia: Isaac Del Toro and Juan Ayuso were the designated leaders, but later in the race, Brandon got his own chance. He wasn’t there solely to ride for others".
The 2027 Tour is time trial heavy, favouring the American if there is an attempt to finish amongst the best in the race. A presence at the Giro d'Italia, potentially even in a leadership position, could also come to be.
What is certain is that the amount of leadership opportunities McNulty will have in 2027 will be superior to what has been the case thus far. "We spoke after the Tour of Lombardy, and he will definitely serve as a leader for us in stage races," he assured.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
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