Cycling | Cycling World Cup in Canada: Against autocracy and against radio

Surprise world champion Brandon McNulty could hardly believe his luck at the finish. Photo: imago/Jasper Jacobs Brandon McNulty tapped his helmet obsessively on Avenue du Parc in Montreal. The American simply couldn't believe that in that moment he had transformed from a classic helper into a world champion. He also struggled for words in front of the microphones. "I couldn't believe it until 300 meters from the finish, I was so tired," he said. His pursuers even came within sight of him on the Montreal street circuit. But the 2016 junior world time trial champion benefited from his rivals' disunity and played to his own strengths in the flat final section.

McNulty was the surprising and worthy winner of a very exciting race on Sunday evening European time. Because over the course of the 273.4 kilometers, many candidates for the rainbow jersey were in a great attacking mood. They looked like the courtiers of the past at the court of the absent Greek prince Odysseus. Only it wasn't about the favor of the endlessly weaving wife Penelope, but rather the already completed rainbow jersey.

The French team led by prodigy Paul Seixas took control of the race early on. Anything other than the title would be a disappointment for him, he had previously announced somewhat full-bodiedly. His team drove the same way, but burned too much energy too early. In the final, Seixas suffered cramps - and judged himself harshly: "That was a beginner's mistake. My teammates deserve a better captain.«

This almost brutal honesty suited the race perfectly. Because that was also brutally honest and brought to light the strengths and weaknesses of each individual driver and each individual nation.

At German Cycling it was just the weaknesses. When things went off for the first time around 80 kilometers from the finish with an attack by the Belgian Wout Van Aert, the German starters quickly lost touch. »You have to accept it like that. We didn't get out of there by chance, but because of our performance," commented Georg Zimmermann dryly after the race. With 38th place he was still the best German.

When he attacked, Van Aert looked like a sure medal winner. The Belgian quickly found company in former world champion Mathieu van der Poel from the Netherlands. About ten kilometers later he reduced the size of the group with a determined stride and even distanced Van Aert. »I had to take the risk. I felt good and wanted to make the race tough, especially to be ahead of the favorites' attacks on this small climb," van der Poel later explained his early attempt.

The small group around him, including the clever Slovenian veteran Primož Roglič, circled around the circuit for a few laps with a lead of around 20 seconds over the field. But she too was caught again until McNulty began his solo with around 30 kilometers to go. 

With all its surprising twists and turns, the men's race was a worthy continuation of the equally varied women's race the day before. For a long time, soloist Demi Vollering from the Netherlands looked like the sure winner on Saturday. Then the Polish Kasia Niewiadoma and the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini finally got to them. Longo Borghini even attacked, but had to let her rivals pass again.

Vollering ultimately won the two-man sprint ahead of Niewiadoma. This meant that the podium line-up in Montreal for women was the same as before at the Tour de France Femmes. The strongest female tour riders also determined the World Cup. But they fought a passionate and exciting battle until the end.

The fact that things were similarly exciting for the men this year was of course due to the absence of the injured superstar Tadej Pogačar. His absence released all the brakes. The radio ban also added to its appeal. »This is the best thing ever: racing without earplugs. Then you have to drive instinctively, and that's exactly what I love," said van der Poel, the most active driver of the day, who was able to console himself with third place in the end.

And the absent Pogačar also had something to be happy about at the end. Winner McNulty is the Slovenian's everyday helper at Team UAE Emirates. So the rainbow bib remains in the racing team and Pogačar also dutifully congratulated on social media. Let's see how much leeway he can give the others next season for the benefit of cycling.

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