On September 27, 2026, the Men’s Elite Road Race at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships came to an end in Montreal, Canada. After a fiercely contested 273.4-kilometer race, American rider Brandon McNulty launched a decisive solo attack in the final phase and crossed the finish line first in a time of 6 hours, 17 minutes and 04 seconds, claiming his first Men’s Elite World Championship title.
Australian rider Michael Matthews took the silver medal, while Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel claimed bronze. McNulty’s victory also marked the first time in 33 years that an American rider had won the Men’s Elite Road Race World Championship.
A 273.4-Kilometer Battle for the Rainbow Jersey
The Men’s Elite Road Race was held on September 27, starting in Brossard and finishing in Montreal over a total distance of 273.4 kilometers. According to UCI event information, it was the final Men’s Elite road race of the 2026 World Championships.
A total of 181 riders took the start. The race quickly developed a high pace, with riders from several national teams fighting to establish a breakaway. A group of 16 riders formed an early breakaway and at one point built an advantage of more than seven minutes.
As the race entered the Montreal circuit, teams from France, Switzerland, Mexico and other nations increased the pace of the chase, gradually reducing the gap to the leaders. Once the riders entered the urban Montreal circuit, the race entered its decisive phase. The course featured repeated climbs and technical sections, causing the peloton to fragment as the finish approached.
Van der Poel, Roglič and Others Launch Repeated Attacks
As the race entered its second half, the pace increased significantly.
Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel launched a powerful attack with approximately 74 kilometers remaining. He formed a leading group with riders including Quinn Simmons and Oscar Onley. Primož Roglič subsequently bridged across to the front group, creating a highly dynamic situation involving several groups on the road.
At the same time, Mexican rider Isaac del Toro, French rider Paul Seixas, British rider Tom Pidcock, Irish rider Ben Healy and Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel also made repeated attempts to attack from the chasing groups.
With 40 kilometers remaining, the gaps between the different groups continued to fluctuate. Every attack had the potential to change the final composition of the podium.
McNulty Launches the Decisive Attack with 32 Kilometers to Go
The decisive moment of the race came with approximately 32 kilometers remaining.
The United States team had a strong numerical presence in the leading group during the final stages. Matteo Jorgenson made an initial attack before McNulty seized the opportunity to launch a more sudden move.
McNulty quickly opened a gap and successfully broke away from the chasing group. His initial advantage of around 10 seconds soon increased to more than 30 seconds. With 28.5 kilometers remaining, he had established an advantage of approximately 33 seconds.
McNulty then maintained a high pace during his solo ride. As he entered the final two laps, his advantage had increased to more than one minute. Although the riders behind continued to chase, the American maintained his lead through a combination of a steady pace and strong endurance.
A Dramatic Final Lap as McNulty Holds On to the Rainbow Jersey
The final stage of the race produced a dramatic turnaround.
Entering the final lap, McNulty was clearly showing signs of fatigue. Tom Pidcock, Giulio Ciccone and other riders repeatedly increased the pace, gradually reducing the gap to the lone leader.
During the final passage through the key climbing section, McNulty’s advantage was reduced to around 10 seconds at one point. The chasing riders were close enough to see the American rider ahead, but the chase group lacked sustained cooperation and was ultimately unable to complete the catch.
Mathieu van der Poel made another attack with approximately seven kilometers remaining, but Matteo Jorgenson continued to play an important role in the chase and defensive work, preventing the Dutch rider from establishing a decisive gap.
McNulty ultimately held on to his lead and crossed the finish line first in a time of 6:17:04, successfully completing his approximately 32-kilometer solo breakaway to become World Champion.
Matthews Takes Silver, Van der Poel Claims Bronze
After McNulty crossed the finish line, Michael Matthews, Mathieu van der Poel and Quinn Simmons arrived as part of the chasing group.
Matthews ultimately finished second, 13 seconds behind McNulty, while Van der Poel also finished 13 seconds back in third. Simmons took fourth place.
Isaac del Toro, Mads Pedersen, Tom Pidcock and Matteo Jorgenson completed the top eight.
Men’s Elite Road Race Final Results
Brandon McNulty (USA) — 6:17:04
Michael Matthews (Australia) — +13 seconds
Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) — +13 seconds
Quinn Simmons (USA) — +13 seconds
Isaac del Toro (Mexico) — +14 seconds
Mads Pedersen (Denmark) — +14 seconds
Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) — +14 seconds
Matteo Jorgenson (USA) — +14 seconds
Giulio Ciccone (Italy) — +14 seconds
Ben Healy (Ireland) — +14 seconds
Remco Evenepoel finished 12th, Juan Ayuso 13th, Paul Seixas 15th and Primož Roglič 21st.
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar was unable to compete in the Men’s Elite Road Race after an incident during the Vuelta a España, meaning the event produced a new World Champion.
McNulty Ends a 33-Year Wait for the United States
For American road cycling, McNulty’s victory carries particular significance.
It was not only his first Men’s Elite Road Race World Championship title, but also the first time since 1993 that an American rider had won the Men’s Elite Road Race World Championship.
McNulty had already finished fourth in the Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial at these World Championships. He then completed his breakthrough in the road race, becoming the standout Men’s Elite rider of the Montreal World Championships.
The race also demonstrated the strength of the United States team’s tactics. Jorgenson and Simmons both played important roles during the final stages, using attacks and defensive work to create the conditions for McNulty to establish and maintain his decisive lead.
2026 UCI Road World Championships Come to an End
With the Men’s Elite Road Race completed, the road events of the 2026 UCI Road World Championships officially came to an end.
From the individual time trials to the road races, the championships featured competition across multiple categories in and around Montreal. As the final major event, the Men’s Elite Road Race concluded the championships with a long-distance, high-intensity contest characterized by repeated attacks.
McNulty’s solo move during the final 32 kilometers proved to be the decisive turning point of the race. Despite seeing his advantage shrink dramatically in the closing stages, the American rider held on to a 13-second lead at the finish and claimed his first Men’s Elite World Championship rainbow jersey.
