{"id":130932,"date":"2026-09-28T09:32:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/world-champion-mcnulty-can-only-joke-about-getting-pulls-from-pogacar-in-2027\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:32:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:32:43","slug":"world-champion-mcnulty-can-only-joke-about-getting-pulls-from-pogacar-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/world-champion-mcnulty-can-only-joke-about-getting-pulls-from-pogacar-in-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"World Champion McNulty Can Only Joke about Getting Pulls From Poga\u010dar in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Brandon McNulty keeps the rainbow jersey in Team UAE for a third year but he&#8217;s in no doubt who the boss will be in his world title season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$?--><template id=\"B:1\"\/><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\"> (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Updated September 28, 2026 03:54AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/brandon-mcnulty\" rel=\"noopener\">Brandon McNulty<\/a> ensured the rainbow jersey stays at UAE Emirates-XRG another year with his sensational <a target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/uci-road-world-championships\" rel=\"noopener\">world title<\/a> victory Sunday, but he\u2019s under no illusions about who the boss will be in 2027.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/tadej-pogacar\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/a>, the UAE rider who wore the stripes the two years before him.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to the media Sunday night, McNulty could only joke \u2013 and perhaps hope \u2013 that his new status will elevate him multiple tiers in the hierarchy of his Emirati super team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe Tadej will have to ride for me a few days,\u201d McNulty laughed Sunday when asked about the future dynamic between him and the GOAT.<\/p>\n<p>McNulty has been a selfless superdomestique for Poga\u010dar for years.<\/p>\n<p>But Rainbow Jersey Fever hadn\u2019t gotten the Arizonan confused over who will ride for who in 2027.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the end of the day, Tadej\u2019s still the best rider. So now it\u2019ll be fun me riding the front of races for him in the jersey,\u201d McNulty said. \u201cIt will be really cool to race with him [Poga\u010dar] for the first time next.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>McNulty: \u2018I hope I can make Poga\u010dar proud\u2019<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1007377\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1007377\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2296910220-1200x800.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2296910220-1200x800.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2296910220-1200x800.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">McNulty was in disbelief when he crossed the line at road worlds and was full of tears when he received his rainbow jersey.<\/span> (Photo: ASPER JACOBS \/ BELGA MAG \/ Belga \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>McNulty acknowledged that his solo attack through the streets of Montr\u00e9al might never have been possible if Poga\u010dar was there to defend his crown Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>The Slovenian\u2019s crash at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a ended his season and turned the world championships road race into a free-for-all.<\/p>\n<p>But McNulty\u2019s win was not a gimme.<\/p>\n<p>He and Team USA stepped up to take control of the chaos created by Poga\u010dar\u2019s absence. The team\u2019s fearless multi-rider strategy overcame the French and Belgian favorites and made McNulty the USA\u2019s <a target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/brandon-mcnulty-ends-33-year-us-drought-road-world-title\/\" rel=\"noopener\">first elite men\u2019s world title in 33 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s super special [to wear the rainbow jersey],\u201d McNulty said Sunday in his first press conference as world champion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut obviously I\u2019m very sad that what happened [Poga\u010dar\u2019s crash at Vuelta] is why he\u2019s not here. I hate to see anyone crash. I know this was important to him,\u201d McNulty said. \u201cOn the bright side, I can at least hope I made him proud. I hope he enjoyed watching.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar was indeed watching.<\/p>\n<p>The sidelined Slovenian <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ddzb5P6iGqc\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\">posted images of himself and his teammate<\/a> to Instagram with the caption \u201cThe King of Montr\u00e9al. Proud of you, Brandon McNulty.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Poga\u010dar will return to rule Team UAE in 2027<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1007376\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"McNulty was 'gifted' victory at the GP Montr\u00e9al in 2025. He'll be relying on more favors when he's racing with Poga\u010dar in 2027.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"843\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1007376\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2234897097-2-1200x843.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2234897097-2-1200x843.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2234897097-2-1200x843.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">McNulty was \u2018gifted\u2019 victory at the GP Montr\u00e9al in 2025. He\u2019ll be relying on more favors when he\u2019s racing with Poga\u010dar in 2027.<\/span> (Photo: MATHIEU BELANGER\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>UAE team principal Mauro Gianetti was in Montr\u00e9al on Sunday and was soon on hand to congratulate his new world champion.<\/p>\n<p>UAE Emirates XRG rolled out the <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DdzWqv1szAs\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\">customary social media posts<\/a> praising the 28-year-old who\u2019s been on the books since 2020 and will remain so through 2030.<\/p>\n<p>McNulty was enjoying the attention while he could get it.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s smart enough to know it won\u2019t last when Poga\u010dar returns to racing in the new year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was super special to see Mauro. He\u2019s very caring for me, and he\u2019s always been really good for my development,\u201d McNulty said Sunday. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see him and the other staff from UAE who were here.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s nice that they\u2019re here to see this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McNulty brought UAE Emirates-XRG its third world title in three years Sunday and reinforced its status as the world\u2019s No.1 team.<\/p>\n<p>But there will be no question that Poga\u010dar will continue to reign supreme when he returns to the team bus in 2027. Being denied the chance to win the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a and three-peat at worlds will have only sharpened his hunger.<\/p>\n<p>McNulty, Del Toro, and all the rest will have to step into line.<\/p>\n<h2>Will McNulty be overshadowed in rainbow jersey season?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1007378\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1007378\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2297440439.jpg?width=1080&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2297440439.jpg?width=2048&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2297440439.jpg?width=2048&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">UCI boss David Lappartient did the honors at the podium presentation at the Montr\u00e9al worlds.<\/span> (Photo: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Yet it\u2019s not all bad for McNulty. Poga\u010dar doesn\u2019t rule his team with an iron fist.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s a benevolent dictator who does favors in expectation of returns.<\/p>\n<p>This year, he <a target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/pogacar-del-tour-stage-victory-tour-de-france-gift\/\" rel=\"noopener\">gifted a stage win to Del Toro<\/a> at the Tour de France to keep the Mexican in line as his future lieutenant in the high mountains.<\/p>\n<p>And last year, McNulty got the favor. Poga\u010dar \u201clet\u201d the quiet American win the 2025 GP Montr\u00e9al after the two rode off the front in the final 20km.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether McNulty sees more of his own chances in 2027, whether alongside or separate from Poga\u010dar.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, he took stage-race victories in Poland, Luxembourg, and Croatia when he raced a mostly different program from his dominant leader.<\/p>\n<p>What is clear, however, is that McNulty\u2019s first races in the rainbow bands won\u2019t be overshadowed by the five-time Tour de France winner.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s provisionally expected to debut his new rainbow jersey this Sunday at the one-day Coppa Agostoni before a full program of Italian classics.<\/p>\n<p><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/maybe-tadej-will-ride-for-me-world-champion-mcnulty-can-only-joke-about-getting-pulls-from-pogacar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brandon McNulty keeps the rainbow jersey in Team UAE for a third year but he&#8217;s in no doubt who the boss will be in his world title season. (Photo: Getty Images) Updated September 28, 2026 03:54AM Brandon McNulty ensured the rainbow jersey stays at UAE Emirates-XRG another year with his sensational world title victory Sunday, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":130933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130932"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130932\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}