TakeWorlds2 weeks ago
McNulty debuts rainbow jersey in a race he's never ridden
Brandon McNulty will debut the rainbow jersey at Giro dell'Emilia on October 3, a race he has never ridden before. From there he heads into Il Lombardia, where his last appearance in 2021 ended 65th behind Tadej Pogačar — and where UAE Team Emirates-XRG now needs someone else to chase the win Pogačar's injury takes off the table.
What this means
UAE Team Emirates-XRG needs someone other than the injured Pogačar to chase the Il Lombardia win, and it falls to a rider debuting the rainbow jersey at a race he's never ridden before.
McNulty had not won a race in the entire 2026 season before Montreal. The Italian block runs through Coppa Agostoni, Tre Valli Varesine and Gran Piemonte before Il Lombardia on October 10, and McNulty may extend his season further with the Giro del Veneto and Veneto Classic after that. He last rode Lombardia in 2021 and finished 65th behind Pogačar, who is now injured and unable to chase what would have been his sixth straight Il Lombardia title, leaving UAE Team Emirates-XRG needing someone else for the win. McNulty framed the jersey itself as the goal now: «Maybe next week in Il Lombardia or maybe a stage in the Tour de France next year in the jersey. If I could do that I would be satisfied with my career.»
Sources
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