Brandon McNulty, the reigning world champion, conquers the Veneto Classic 2026 at the end of a dominant performance. The American rider from UAE Team Emirates-XRG crosses the finish line solo after a decisive attack on the Diesel Farm climb, securing his first victory as world champion and crowning a special day wearing the rainbow jersey. Behind him, Anton Charmig and Pavel Sivakov finish second and third, respectively.

THE RACE. The peloton proceeds compactly in the early stages of the race. At 97 kilometers from the finish, at the climb towards Rosina, a large breakaway forms that includes world champion Brandon McNulty and his teammate Pavel Sivakov. At 82 kilometers from the finish, the breakaway group loses one of its members, while the main peloton chases with a deficit of one minute and 25 seconds. McNulty maintains a position near the front, with the group trailing approximately one minute and 17 seconds behind.

At 63 kilometers from the finish, six riders remain at the front: McNulty, Baroncini, Sivakov, Anton Charmig, and two other athletes. The sextet manages to gain eleven seconds on their former breakaway companions. Shortly after, at 59 kilometers from the finish, six more riders manage to rejoin the leaders, reforming a group of twelve men with a fourteen-second advantage over the chasers.

At the third passage over the Tisa climb, McNulty and Charmig move to the front and continue their attack. Behind them, counterattack attempts are not lacking, while a group of seventeen riders tries to close the gap.

Approximately 40 kilometers from the finish, McNulty and Charmig lead the race with a 38-second advantage over the chasers and approximately three minutes over the main group. The race thus enters its decisive phase, with selection increasing on the circuit's climbs.

At the fifth passage over Tisa, Sivakov and other riders come to the fore in the chasing group. On the final ascent, McNulty and Charmig remain in command, while behind them the chasers attempt to keep the pursuit alive. Further back, the group led by Scaroni tries to limit the gap.

On the Diesel Farm climb, another rider from the chasing group approaches the two leaders. However, it is McNulty who breaks the deadlock: the world champion launches a decisive attack and surges toward the finish line alone, never to be caught.

Behind him, Anton Charmig closes in second place and Pavel Sivakov completes the podium. For McNulty, this is a victory with particular significance: his first as world champion, achieved at the end of a race in which he was the protagonist.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) 3:32:57

2. Anton Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) +1:06

3. Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) +1:32

4. Clément Berthet (Groupama - FDJ United) +1:53

5. Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +2:02

6. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) +2:09

7. Quinten Hermans (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) +2:10

8. Marcel Camprubí (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) +2:10

9. Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana Team) +2:10

10. Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) +2:10