IN BRIEF
American Brandon McNulty is the road world champion. On Sunday 27 September in Montréal, he attacked 32.4 km from the finish and held on alone to the end, ahead of Michael Matthews and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, 13 seconds back according to Velo. According to AFP, he becomes the third American world champion in history, after Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong, and the first in 33 years according to Velo. France’s Paul Seixas, dropped in the last five kilometres, finished 15th and spoke of a huge disappointment.
The men’s elite road race closed the Road World Championships in Montréal: 273.7 kilometres and 3,803 metres of climbing according to the organiser’s official website, between Brossard and Montréal. Paul Seixas and Remco Evenepoel were among the favourites, according to Velo.
Brandon McNulty, 32 kilometres alone
According to Velo’s account, McNulty slipped away from the leading group 32.4 km from the finish, then rode in time-trial mode: 1’08” ahead with two laps to go, still 52 seconds at the bell and 24 seconds with five kilometres to go. Behind, according to the same account, his teammates Matteo Jorgenson and Quinn Simmons neutralised every chase attempt, including those of Tom Pidcock and Remco Evenepoel.
Michael Matthews won the sprint for the silver medal, 13 seconds later, ahead of Mathieu van der Poel and Quinn Simmons, reports Velo. Isaac del Toro, Mads Pedersen, Tom Pidcock, Matteo Jorgenson, Giulio Ciccone and Ben Healy completed the top 10, one second further back.
On the last climb of Mont Royal, “I was just dying. I kept just pushing,” the 28-year-old rider said, quoted by Velo. “I knew something could happen but it would take a miracle. I guess today miracles happen,” he added.
The third American crowned, 33 years after Armstrong
According to AFP, McNulty becomes the third American world champion in history. Velo notes that he joins Greg LeMond, winner in 1983 and 1989, and Lance Armstrong, crowned in 1993: the United States had been waiting 33 years for this rainbow jersey in the men’s elite race. Also according to Velo, this is the third year in a row that a rider from the UAE Emirates-XRG team will wear the world champion’s jersey. “I’ve been able to wins some races in my career, but I’ve never been a superstar,” McNulty told Velo.
Paul Seixas cracks in the finale
On the French side, Paul Seixas’s team did a large share of the chasing and brought the gap down to 1’15” with 123 km to go, according to Velo. But the Frenchman eventually gave way less than five kilometres from the finish, reports AFP; Velo mentions cramps in the finale. Classified 15th, he spoke on Sunday of “a huge disappointment” (translated from the French).
