Brandon McNulty’s triumph at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Sunday marked the biggest one-day victory of his career, ranking alongside his stage wins in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. It was also a landmark achievement for UAE Team Emirates, not only because Tadej Pogačar showed strong form ahead of the world championships, but also because the squad became the first in the race’s 14-year history to secure both first and second place. Even more significantly, the team’s win tally now equals the long-standing record of 85 victories set by Columbia-HTC in 2009.
McNulty admitted he hadn’t realized his win tied the record, calling it “a really cool statistic.” Pogačar echoed the pride, highlighting the team’s depth and consistency across the season, with nearly every rider contributing to the success.
The outcome on Sunday wasn’t straightforward. With two laps remaining, McNulty and Pogačar were in a breakaway alongside Quinn Simmons and Louis Barré. Pogačar launched a decisive attack on the Côte de Camillien-Houde, shedding Barré and Simmons. McNulty seemed destined for second, until Pogačar slowed to let him rejoin, then drove him toward the finish, gifting his teammate the win.
McNulty expressed gratitude, noting how rare it was for a rider of Pogačar’s caliber to share such an opportunity. For Pogačar, it was both a show of appreciation for a loyal domestique and a sign that his real focus is on the upcoming world championships.
Simmons, who finished third, admitted it was daunting to face two UAE riders in the finale but was satisfied with his best-ever WorldTour one-day result. Exhausted at the finish, he still took pride in reaching the podium in U.S. champion’s colors.
For McNulty, the day was unforgettable: “Crossing the line behind the world champion, the best rider in the world, it’s one of the most special moments of my career so far.”
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