Brandon McNulty ended the 2026 cycling season with a major win at the Veneto Classic, leading UAE Team Emirates-XRG to a strong finish. His teammate Pavel Sivakov also secured third place, giving the Emirati team two riders on the podium.
The victory was McNulty’s first since he became world road race champion in Montréal last month. It also marked his first win while wearing the rainbow jersey. UAE Team Emirates-XRG finished the season with 78 victories.
The race took place on a tough route between Cittadella and Bassano del Grappa in Italy. Riders faced repeated climbs on the cobbled La Tisa ascent and the steep gravel slopes of Diesel Farm. The demanding course created several chances for attacks and tested the strength of the leading teams.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG played a major role throughout the race. With about 80 kilometres left, a strong group of leading riders formed at the front. McNulty was joined by teammates Filippo Baroncini, Benoît Cosnefroy and Sivakov.
Having four riders in the front group gave the team more options as the race moved toward its final stages. The riders could respond to attacks while forcing rival teams to manage several threats at once.
McNulty remained active as the pace increased. With around 40 kilometres remaining, he made a decisive move alongside Anthon Charmig of Uno-X Mobility. The pair worked together and began to build a gap over the chasing groups.
Their lead grew to almost a minute as the riders behind struggled to organize a strong pursuit. The breakaway gave McNulty a chance to use his climbing strength and racing experience on the final section of the course.
The key moment came on the steep gravel climb at Diesel Farm. With around 10 kilometres left, McNulty launched an attack and dropped Charmig. The American opened a gap on the climb and reached the top with an advantage.
He then used his time-trial skills to maintain his speed on the road toward Bassano del Grappa. McNulty held a lead of about 20 seconds with six kilometres remaining and continued to push hard.
The chasing riders could not close the gap. McNulty crossed the finish line alone to secure the victory and celebrate his first win in the rainbow jersey.
Behind him, Sivakov completed a strong team performance by taking third place. His podium finish made the result more meaningful, as it was his final race for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
The double podium gave the team a positive end to a season that brought several challenges. Crashes, injuries and periods without key riders tested the squad throughout the year. Despite those setbacks, the team continued to win races and compete at the highest level.
Its final total of 78 victories underlined the strength of its season. McNulty’s success also added another highlight to a year in which he reached the top of the sport by winning the world road race title in Montréal.
After the race, McNulty said he was pleased to finish the season with a victory. He had enjoyed racing in the rainbow jersey in recent weeks and wanted to win while wearing it.
He said the result was especially meaningful because it came on the final day of the season. McNulty also praised his teammates, saying their numbers in the leading group gave the team several options during the race.
He explained that once he joined Charmig in the breakaway, he knew he needed to make a difference on the final climbs. His attack on Diesel Farm created the gap that allowed him to ride alone to the finish.
McNulty also said he had raced often since the world championships and had been working toward his first win in the rainbow jersey. Finishing the season with that result, with his wife waiting at the finish line, made the moment even more special.
For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the Veneto Classic offered a fitting end to a demanding campaign. McNulty took the win, Sivakov earned third place, and the team closed the year with another strong performance.
The result also gave McNulty a memorable start to his reign as world champion. After winning the rainbow jersey in Montréal, he now has a victory to match it, bringing his season and the team’s 2026 campaign to a successful close.
