Young American stage-racer Brandon McNulty will have another chance to lead UAE Team Emirates this coming week as the team will ambition a strong result in the overall classification alongside stage wins.
“Since the beginning of the year the Dauphiné has always been a goal. I’ve had a good build up in training for this race, the level will be very high but we’re going in with a strong team and we’ll aim to be active on each stage," McNulty said in anticipation for the race. Having won the Trofeo Calvia and Faun-Ardèche Classic, alongside a stage win at Paris-Nice with standout performances there and at the Volta ao Algarve, he has consolidated himself as a very complete and extremely dangerous rider. He will have another opportunity to lead the team here, as the 32-kilometer long time-trial likely see him emerge onto the final weekend as one of the main favourites for the overall win.
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After illnesses broke down his ambitions towards the end of the spring, the 24-year old claims that "I’m back to full health now and all things considered it’s been a pretty amazing season so far so I’m really looking forward to kicking-off this second half.” He will have Juan Ayuso as a co-leader, aswell as the support of George Bennett in the mountains - as Tadej Pogacar eyes his home race the Tour of Slovenia.
Furthermore the team is set to have high sprint expectations as Juan Sebastián Molano comes off a win at the Boucles de la Mayenne, and will be supported by a leadout of Ivo Oliveira and Oliviero Troia.
UAE Team Emirates for Critérium du Dauphiné: Brandon McNulty, Andrés Ardila, Juan Ayuso, George Bennett, Juan Sebastián Molano, Ivo Oliveira and Oliviero Troia.
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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.
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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)...
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- great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- He should be in a different team. It was detrimental. For them it does not matter if he does not develop. He should have gone to a team where they need him to succeed.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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