Stunned McNulty wins ‘miracle’ road race world title

Brandon McNulty of the United States stunned the sporting world by winning the men's road race world title at the UCI Road Cycling Championships in Montreal, Canada on Sunday. The 28-year-old American rider became the first US champion in 33 years, beating his rivals with a mere 13-second margin. McNulty broke away with 32km remaining on the challenging street circuit and held off a disorganized chase, ultimately crossing the finish line ahead of Australian Michael Matthews and former champion Mathieu van der Poel, who finished in third place.

McNulty expressed his disbelief, saying, "Honestly, I don't know. Really, this is, I don't know." He admitted he was unsure until the final 100 meters and even doubted his chances until the last moments. The last American to wear the coveted rainbow jersey was Lance Armstrong in 1993, six years before he began his controversial career at the Tour de France.

McNulty jokingly mentioned to his wife that winning was a "miracle," and he realized the possibility when he launched an opportunistic move after the four-man breakaway was caught by one of the pre-race favorites, Isaac Del Toro.

The victory marks a significant achievement for McNulty, who will now ride for his Slovenian team leader, Tadej Pogacar, wearing the world champion's jersey. Pogacar, who was injured during the race, is expected to be proud of McNulty's accomplishment. McNulty hopes the new world champion will appreciate his efforts in keeping the prestigious title in their team.