World champion Brandon McNulty set for rainbow jersey debut at Giro dell’Emilia
CyclingTuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:00
Brandon McNulty will make his first appearance in the rainbow jersey at the Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday, beginning a late-season Italian campaign that could see the new world champion race as many as five more times before closing his 2026 season.
McNulty's place in UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Italian autumn programme had already been decided before he produced the biggest victory of his career in Montréal. The American attacked late in the World Championships road race and held off the chase to become the first US rider since 1993 to win the elite men's road world title.
Now, his first race in the rainbow jersey will come in a race he has never previously contested. The Giro dell'Emilia is expected to feature several strong contenders, including Tom Pidcock and Giulio Pellizzari, while McNulty could also line up alongside UAE teammate Isaac del Toro.
Speaking after his World Championships victory, McNulty confirmed that the race would be the start of an Italian block that is expected to carry him through the final weeks of the season. “I’m meant to do Emilia and then almost the entire Italian block through Lombardia,” McNulty said. “I’m looking forward to it and now to start with the jersey will be special. Hopefully, I can show with decent legs.”
Michael Matthews, Brandon McNulty and Mathieu van der Poel on the podium of the 2026 Montréal World Championships
McNulty could race four more times in Italy
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, McNulty is scheduled to continue from the Giro dell'Emilia to Tre Valli Varesine on October 6 and then Il Lombardia on October 10. His programme could subsequently be extended to the Giro del Veneto on October 14 and Veneto Classic on October 18.
That would give McNulty as many as five Italian races in his first weeks as world champion, although the final composition of his programme has yet to be confirmed.
The Giro dell'Emilia will be McNulty's first appearance in the race, which takes place on the same weekend as the European Championships in Slovenia. Pidcock and Pellizzari are among the riders expected on the provisional start list, while Del Toro could also return to the race after winning the 2025 edition.
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Lombardia offers a different opportunity
Il Lombardia will be the most significant race of McNulty's Italian programme. The American has not competed in the season-ending Monument since 2021, when he played a supporting role as Pogacar claimed the first of his five consecutive victories in the Race of the Falling Leaves.
UAE is expected to place Del Toro at the head of its Lombardia lineup in the absence of Pogacar. The Mexican finished fifth in 2025 after helping set up Pogacar's winning attack and could again be one of the team's principal options.
McNulty will therefore arrive in Italy carrying the rainbow jersey and with considerably greater attention than when his programme was first planned.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- Almeida had long-running health problems this season, but last season he was the best one week stage racer of the year, and finished 2nd in the Vuelta behind only Vingegaard, so he shouldn’t be dismissed so easily.Lozza29-09-2026
- Seemed to work at the Olympics though.Lozza29-09-2026
- I don’t know why the rest of the French team started attacking once Bruno had finished his monster turn, surely they would have done better to stay with Paul and help him for as long as possible. Maybe Bruno’s turn was a bit too monster.Lozza29-09-2026
- a lot of the leaders were in a similar position like MVDP, Del Toro etc. You need to plan for that contingency. Sexias is inexperienced but the staff is having been part of Alaphillpe wining WCs.abstractengineer29-09-2026
- Not sure what Cheaty McCheatface is complaining about!Lozza29-09-2026
- it was a blistering attack, with ideal timing, only mathews was behind him and had an chance to possibly follow/chase quickly -- which he was gassed like everyone and alwasy leaves it to the others. Very similiar to when they closed to withing 12 seconds, its was in MVP and Matthews best interest to roll an attack and/or take a pull to finish the close, but MVP had spent his bullets making the race with quinn and Matthews will never pull a group even when its in his best interest.jad2929-09-2026
- I’d love to see him at Euros in his home country, but the thought of him possibly crashing again so soon 🤯🫣. Nothing to stop him handing out the prizes on the podium though!Lozza29-09-2026
- Del Toro chased so many attacks that he just seemed out of gas, more than anything else. I honestly didn't think he was helping McNulty. I did think he had an anchor in Seixas that totally changed his race.RidesHills29-09-2026
- what a clown show. they are all pointing fingers. at least Seixas is big enough to point at himself, perhaps wrongly, but he is.mij29-09-2026
- They need to start over on this plan. WVA and Remco do not win together.mij29-09-2026
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