McNulty took the rainbow jersey in a finish that rewarded patience over pyrotechnics, holding the decisive move when it mattered most across what was clearly a demanding finale. He read the race better than riders who carry far greater reputations, timing his effort with the precision of someone who had been saving himself for exactly this moment. Matthews and Van der Poel — a former world champion among them — could not close thirteen seconds, while Simmons at fourth signals American depth that hasn't been visible at this level in decades, and Del Toro's presence at fifth confirms that Mexican cycling is producing something genuinely serious. GC data is not applicable here — McNulty wears the stripes now, and that is the only classification that matters.
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🏁 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS — Stage 9
🥇 MCNULTY Brandon (USA) (6:17:04)
🥈 MATTHEWS Michael (AUS) (+0:13)
🥉 VAN DER POEL Mathieu (NED) (+0:13)
4. SIMMONS Quinn (USA) (+0:13)
5. DEL TORO Isaac (MEX) (+0:14)