USA Cycling Ends 33-Year Drought as Brandon McNulty Claims World Title in Montreal

Key points

• McNulty finished the 273-kilometer race in 6 hours, 17 minutes, and 4 seconds, becoming the first American world champion since Lance Armstrong in 1993.
• The USA team employed a selfless strategy, with Matteo Jorgenson and Quinn Simmons executing key tactical roles to support McNulty’s final push.
• The absence of defending champion Tadej Pogačar created an open race, allowing multiple contenders to contest the lead before McNulty’s decisive move.
• Three American riders finished in the top 10, with Jorgenson placing eighth and Simmons fourth, highlighting the depth of the national squad.
• The win is viewed as the culmination of a decade-long development strategy by USA Cycling, featuring a 'golden generation' of riders who grew up together.

Background

The United States had not won the elite men’s road race world title since 1993, when Lance Armstrong claimed the jersey in Oslo. Prior to this victory, the only other American men to wear the rainbow jersey were Greg LeMond (1983, 1989) and Armstrong. Recent years saw rising American success, including Sepp Kuss’s 2023 Vuelta a España win and Matteo Jorgenson’s back-to-back Paris-Nice titles in 2024 and 2025, but the world road title remained elusive until McNulty’s breakthrough.

How outlets are covering it

Cyclingnews emphasized the 'selfless teamwork' of the USA squad, noting that riders like Jorgenson and Simmons, who are typically domestiques for top stars like Pogačar and Van Aert, set aside their egos to support a teammate. AZ Family highlighted the 'miracle' nature of the win, focusing on McNulty’s exhaustion and disbelief at the finish line. Outside Magazine argued the win was 'no miracle' but the result of a decade-long development pipeline, citing the friendly rivalry and collaboration between McNulty and Jorgenson since their junior years. USA Cycling provided the official results, confirming the team’s strategic execution and the absence of Pogačar as a key factor in the open race.

Why it matters

This victory marks a historic milestone for American cycling, ending a 33-year drought and validating the long-term development strategies of USA Cycling. It demonstrates the effectiveness of a collective team approach over individual star power and signals the arrival of a new 'golden generation' of American riders on the world stage, potentially influencing future national team strategies and rider development programs.

What to watch

McNulty is scheduled to debut his rainbow jersey at the Giro dell’Emilia on October 3. The success of the USA team may influence future selections and strategies for international competitions, with a focus on collective effort and the integration of riders from the junior and U23 development pipeline.