'Maybe Tadej will have to ride for me some days': Pogačar's trusted lieutenant Brandon McNulty takes his turn in the rainbows
After helping others in their biggest victories, the American claimed his own
As the UCI Road World Championships approached their climax, Brandon McNulty found himself in the media tent, anxiously awaiting updates on his teammate Tadej Pogačar. With only a handful of laps left, McNulty was out front, trailing behind a formidable group that included Mathieu van der Poel, Michael Matthews, Mads Pedersen, Isaac del Toro, and Tom Pidcock.
Summer McNulty, Tadej's wife, expressed her stress and hope for her husband's success. As McNulty crossed the finish line, he was embraced by Summer, who was overjoyed to see him crowned as the world champion. Tadej's trusted lieutenant, Brandon, joked that he might have to ride for him some days, a sentiment echoed by his teammates and USA Cycling's sports director.
McNulty's American teammates, Quinn Simmons and Matteo Jorgenson, also had strong performances, with Quinn finishing third and Matteo just 12 seconds off the podium. Despite the pressure and the uncertainty, McNulty's familiarity with the course and the support of his teammates proved to be a winning combination. The American rider, who has achieved significant victories with Tadej Pogačar, secured the men's world road race title, marking the first time an American had achieved this feat since 1993.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
