× Sign In Search News Weather Shows Podcasts Events Pictures Contests Cycling-McNulty wins road world title to end US men’s 33-year drought By Thomson Reuters Sep 27, 2026 | 2:49 PM Sept 27 (Reuters) – Brandon McNulty emerged the surprise winner of the road world championships title on Sunday in Montreal to end a 33-year title drought for American men in the race.
In a surprising twist that could only be described as a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, Brandon McNulty has snagged the road world championships title, ending a 33-year dry spell for American men in this grueling race. Yes, you heard that right—33 years! That’s longer than some of us have been alive. The last time an American man claimed this title, Bill Clinton was still in office, and the world was still trying to figure out what a ‘smartphone’ was.
On September 27, McNulty crossed the finish line in Montreal after a stunning 6 hours, 17 minutes, and 4 seconds of cycling, which, let’s be honest, sounds more like a marathon than a bike race. His reaction? Pure disbelief and a fist pump that could rival any sports movie climax. It was a moment that made you want to jump up and cheer, or possibly just sit down and reconsider your life choices while eating a donut.
Now, let’s talk about the race itself. McNulty, who also won the Montreal Grand Prix last year (clearly he has a thing for Montreal), made his move with 32 kilometers to go. That’s right—32 kilometers! Most of us would be out of breath just thinking about it. He managed to build a 50-second lead heading into the final lap, which sounds impressive until you realize that it shrank to just 10 seconds as he struggled on the last climb. Talk about a nail-biter!
In a moment that had everyone on the edge of their seats (or maybe just sitting with a snack), his lead was threatened by a late attack from Mathieu van der Poel. But alas, even with 6.8 kilometers to go, the attack fizzled out like a soda left open overnight. McNulty held on, and the rest is history.
Now, you might be wondering where all the heavyweights were. Well, the absence of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar (who is currently recovering from a crash—yikes!) left McNulty with a clear path. It’s like showing up to a party and realizing you’re the only one who brought snacks.
So, what does this victory mean? For starters, it marks the end of a 33-year drought for the U.S. in this event, with the last American man to win being none other than Lance Armstrong in 1993. Yes, that Lance Armstrong—before the controversy, before the whole ‘not-so-great’ reputation.
McNulty’s win is a reminder that cycling in the U.S. is alive and kicking, and who knows? Maybe this victory will inspire a new generation of cyclists to don their spandex and hit the road. And who knows, maybe one day, we’ll look back at McNulty’s win as the start of a new golden age for American cycling.
Until then, let’s just enjoy the fact that we finally have something to cheer about in the world of American cycling, and maybe, just maybe, we can start making those ‘USA! USA!’ chants a little more frequent. Congratulations, Brandon McNulty—you’ve officially made history, and we’re all here for it!
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