Mike O'Connor
Michael Matthews has claimed his fourth elite men’s road race World Championships medal, taking silver in Montréal as American Brandon McNulty produced a stunning solo victory.
Matthews finished 13 seconds behind McNulty after the American launched his decisive attack with around 32km remaining and held off the chasing group to claim the rainbow jersey. Mathieu van der Poel took bronze.
For Matthews, the result adds another medal to an already remarkable World Championships record.
The 35-year-old previously claimed silver in Richmond in 2015, before taking bronze in Bergen in 2017 and again on home soil in Wollongong in 2022.
Matthews was one of the riders left in contention as the race entered its decisive stages on the demanding Montréal course.
With the peloton progressively reduced by the repeated climbs, the Australian’s ability to survive the tough terrain while retaining his finishing speed once again made him a major factor in the finale.
McNulty, however, changed the complexion of the race with his late attack, breaking clear from the leading group with around 32km to race and quickly establishing a significant advantage.
While the riders behind attempted to organise a chase, McNulty continued to extend his lead.
There was a moment of hope for the chasers when McNulty’s advantage came down on the final circuits, but the 28-year-old held his nerve to complete the solo ride and secure the biggest victory of his career.
Matthews won the sprint from the chasing group to secure silver, adding another World Championships podium to a career that already includes the under-23 world title he won in Geelong in 2010.
The result also continues Matthews’ extraordinary consistency at the elite World Championships. Since winning his first elite medal in 2015, he has now stood on the podium at four separate editions.
McNulty became the first American to win the elite men’s road race world title since 1993, and only the third US rider to take the rainbow jersey after Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong.
2026 UCI Road World Championships – Elite Men’s Road Race
| Pos. | Rider | Nation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon McNulty | USA | 6:17:04 |
| 2 | Michael Matthews | AUS | +0:13 |
| 3 | Mathieu van der Poel | NED | +0:13 |
| 4 | Quinn Simmons | USA | +0:13 |
| 5 | Isaac Del Toro | MEX | +0:14 |
| 6 | Mads Pedersen | DEN | +0:14 |
| 7 | Tom Pidcock | GBR | +0:14 |
| 8 | Matteo Jorgenson | USA | +0:14 |
| 9 | Giulio Ciccone | ITA | +0:14 |
| 10 | Ben Healy | IRL | +0:10 |
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
