Why Gravel Cycling Is Growing in Ireland

​🌈 McNulty Takes the Rainbow Jersey as Healy Battles to World Top 10

American Brandon McNulty produced a perfectly timed solo attack to win the 2026 UCI Elite Men’s Road World Championship in Montréal, while Ireland’s Ben Healy again showed he belongs among the very best one-day racers in the world, finishing 10th. 

🇮🇪 Healy right in the battle

This was far more than Healy simply hanging on for a top-10 finish.

Over 273.7 km and roughly 3,800 metres of climbing, the race repeatedly split on the Mount Royal circuit. Healy was involved in several of the important moves and, with around 60 km remaining, attacked as the leading groups continued to reorganise. 

He eventually managed to bridge across to a powerful group containing riders including Mathieu van der Poel, Quinn Simmons and Primož Roglič. That move put Healy right back into the fight for the rainbow jersey. 

Then came the decisive moment.

With roughly 33 km remaining, McNulty attacked while the favourites hesitated. Nobody immediately committed to closing him down and his advantage rapidly grew. Behind, Healy and Tom Pidcock were among those trying to drive the chase, but with McNulty’s American teammate Matteo Jorgenson disrupting the pursuit, cooperation wasn’t strong enough. 

McNulty made the gamble stick.

He crossed the line after 6:17:04, with Michael Matthews winning the chase for silver 13 seconds later and Van der Poel taking bronze. 

🏆 Top 10

1. 🇺🇸 Brandon McNulty — World Champion
2. 🇦🇺 Michael Matthews — +13 sec
3. 🇳🇱 Mathieu van der Poel — same time
4. 🇺🇸 Quinn Simmons — same time
5. 🇲🇽 Isaac del Toro — +14 sec
6. 🇩🇰 Mads Pedersen — same time
7. 🇬🇧 Tom Pidcock — same time
8. 🇺🇸 Matteo Jorgenson — same time
9. 🇮🇹 Giulio Ciccone — same time
10. 🇮🇪 Ben Healy — same time 

🇮🇪 Another huge Worlds performance from Healy

Tenth might not immediately jump off the page after Healy’s bronze medal in Kigali last year, but the result doesn’t tell the whole story.

Healy raced to win. He attacked, bridged gaps and was still part of the eight-man chase behind McNulty deep into the finale. When McNulty went clear, Healy was also one of the riders trying to organise the pursuit rather than simply protecting a placing. 

It gives Healy a remarkable sequence at the Elite World Championships: 7th in Zürich in 2024, bronze in Kigali in 2025 and 10th in Montréal in 2026. 

And perhaps the biggest story of the day was the nature of the race itself. With Tadej Pogačar absent, there was no dominant rider or team controlling proceedings. Attacks came from everywhere, alliances constantly changed and tactical hesitation ultimately opened the door for McNulty.

The American recognised that moment and committed completely.

Brandon McNulty is World Champion. Ben Healy leaves Montréal without a medal, but once again firmly established among the world’s elite. 🇮🇪