{
  "id": 7593730,
  "title": "Brandon McNulty can win Worlds: Here’s why he’s not just a dark horse",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/brandon-mcnulty-can-win-worlds-heres-why-hes-not-just-a-dark-horse",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T16:59:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Cycling Weekly",
    "slug": "cycling-weekly",
    "url": "https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/brandon-mcnulty-can-win-worlds-heres-why-hes-not-just-a-dark-horse"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tadej Pogačar's crash in the Vuelta a España has left Team USA with a prime opportunity to win the Road World Championships in Montreal. Brandon McNulty, a key member of the team, is considered a dark horse with the potential to claim victory. Pogačar's dominance on hilly courses has been unparalleled, but his absence opens the door for McNulty, who has proven his strength and ability to perform in crucial moments. In the 2025 GP Montréal, McNulty and his American teammates, such as Quinn Simmons and Louis Barré, put up a strong fight, with McNulty ultimately bridging across to Pogačar to claim second place. McNulty's recent successes, including wins in the Tour de Poland, GP Montréal, Tour de Luxembourg, and CRO Race, demonstrate his fitness and racing prowess. The Montréal World Championship circuit features challenging climbs and descents, making breakaways more likely. McNulty's ability to work hard in the peloton and launch winning moves, as seen in the 2025 GP Montréal, makes him a strong contender for the World Championships. Despite the World Championships course being longer than GP Montréal, McNulty's form in late August and September, combined with the team's strong overall performance, suggest he has an excellent chance of winning.",
  "summary": "Team USA is, without a doubt, one of the strongest teams in the race",
  "key_points": [
    "Tadej Pogačar's crash opens opportunity for Brandon McNulty at Worlds.",
    "McNulty has won GP Montréal, Tour de Poland, and other races.",
    "McNulty's form and team's performance suggest strong chance of victory."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}