McNulty Claims Veneto Classic Victory as UAE Team Emirates-XRG Concludes Triumphant Season
The professional cycling team culminates an extraordinary year with 78 victories, including a dominant solo performance at the Italian classic and a remarkable podium finish in France.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG has concluded its 2026 season in resplendent fashion, marking the campaign with a total of 78 victories and demonstrating the calibre of excellence that has characterised the team throughout the year. Brandon McNulty, the newly crowned world road race champion, secured a commanding solo victory at the Veneto Classic in Italy, whilst his teammate Pavel Sivakov secured third place in a display of collective team strength.
The demanding course between Cittadella and Bassano del Grappa presented a formidable challenge, featuring repeated ascents of the cobbled La Tisa climb and the steep gravel slopes of Diesel Farm. McNulty’s exceptional time trialling prowess proved decisive as he navigated the aggressive afternoon of racing, ultimately crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 32 minutes and 57 seconds, commanding a margin of 1 minute and 6 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Sivakov’s third place finish, achieved 1 minute and 32 seconds behind, exemplified the team’s capacity to deliver multiple strong performances at cycling’s most prestigious events.
The victory represented McNulty’s maiden success in the rainbow jersey since his recent ascension to world road race champion in Montréal, adding yet another distinguished achievement to the team’s extensive record in a season that has been characterised by considerable resilience in the face of injuries and adversities that demanded exceptional adaptability.
Complementing these outstanding results, Jay Vine concluded his season with an impressive second place finish at the Chrono des Nations in France, one of the professional peloton’s most esteemed individual time trials. Over the exacting 45.4 kilometre course around Les Herbiers, Vine demonstrated the formidable capabilities that have positioned him amongst the leading time trial specialists in contemporary professional cycling, finishing 2 minutes and 11 seconds behind the victorious Remco Evenepoel, whose winning time of 49 minutes and 53.68 seconds proved insurmountable. This marked Vine’s remarkable third consecutive runner-up finish at this prestigious event.
The team’s final statistics underscore an exceptional concluding phase to the campaign, with strong individual and team results providing an elegant conclusion to a year marked by considerable achievement and unwavering determination.
Source: WAM