Doge

He is 19. At 19, I would guess he would do a top 10 pro worlds ITT.
There has / was a crashing problem. But riders are remembered for what they do, so I don't think that is so much of an issue.
We shall see. 3 Worlds UCI podiums in a row.

MinnMan

So it's nice that Rally Racing is participating in the Dubai event, allowing McNulty to get some exposure to riding with the big dogs even as he keeps himself away from the pressure of a full-time World Tour team. I imagine he'll compete in the U23 worlds again, but otherwise where else will he be racing this year?

Doge

Likely a Como Street ride. Tour of Oman. He'll do several in Europe and U23 nats.

American McNulty comes oh-so-close against WorldTour heavies | VeloNews.com

MinnMan

Also

https://www.strava.com/activities/1399012162

Doge

I think the title of yesterday's ride is more telling.
"Lunch ride" - as in no big thing. Ya I know it is a Strava Default.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1397541444

Doge

GC - CAV 12, Brandon 14, Kittel 17 13 sec between. Nabali about 3 min behind.


Tour of Oman in 3 days.
I really with there were an ITT in the Middle East races. Likely too hard too early.

MinnMan

Seems unlikely that the other teams will allow him to get into a breakaway again.

Doge

Good observation. He is not that much of a sprinter, or a hill climber (compared to the sprinters and hill climbers), although very good and a great surger. The Euros know him much more than we do, so I am not so sure he surprised them all that much - and they did catch him.

In the stage races with TTs - he will do very well against the best. Part of this is due to the waves of talent. The world has some great aging retiring ITT riders, with few coming up that match them. Brandon does.

All that said, it is a long road, but for now, he is as powerful in the ITT as any USA rider ever at this age.

Doge

To me the more interesting thing is the team part.

He went to Rally rather than the U23 devo team. Rally got an upgrade. They showed well. I don't know if the sponsor is ready, but the team is now at another level. Maybe he can be the GC guy and have a team built around him (likely a new sponsor) or get hired away. I think he will stay put for another year, but the choice of going WT team as a GC guy in waiting vs building with Rally will be interesting.

MinnMan

Looks like he's dropped out of the Oman race before stage 5? Anybody know the story?

MinnMan

(Contains ToC Stage 2 Spoiler....so scroll down a bit....)














The kid rode a good race today, but he fell off the pace just as Bernal surged, and paid for it. He clearly has a future in the pro peloton, but whether he has the stuff to compete at the highest level, I don't know. Very curious to see how he does in the ITT on Wednesday. Bernal, BTW, is just 21 years old himself. Clearly he's Sky's new star.

MinnMan

McNulty will be riding in both the ITT and road race U23 events at the UCI world championships next week. Let's see what he can do....

Doge

Today ... Tour of Oman sitting top 10 after 3 days. Against real racers.
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race...f-oman/2019/gc

Doge

I doubt his ITT times will be what they were as his focus is on GC. Most (not all) ITTs prefer the higher mass rider.

MinnMan

https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gir...age-3/results/

TMonk

Woohoo! Go Brandon!

MinnMan

More details here

https://www.velonews.com/2019/04/new...victory_492142

Doge

Watch the acceleration on the attack 11K to go. https://tiz-cycling.racing/videos/to...-3-last-30-km/

MinnMan

Thanks, I was wondering if there was any video.

An impressive win. the race classification is 2.1, and there aren't really any WT teams (well, one), but McNulty looked really strong there.

Paul Barnard

Thanks for sharing that link. That was really good coverage. That wobble at about 2.7km was scary. He really dismantled the competition. Is he a good climber?

Doge

Better than they know.

MinnMan

https://inthebunch.co.za/2019/04/gir...r-final-stage/

MinnMan

https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gir...age-4/results/

"Cyclingnews understands McNulty has been in talks with UAE Team Emirates and so may step up to WorldTour level in 2020."

Doge

This may not happen as soon as 2020. He is being groomed as a more GC guy than a TT guy. Which is how he managed a 4th place in the hill climb today.
We may see slower world ITT performances and jumping to a GC roll, rather than a helper roll. 2020 might be soon. I would have Brandon wait until he can lead a team and be THE guy, not a guy.
There was one WT team there this week. One that could not hold/or didn't think they could hold/or was told not to hold his wheel.
If he can the THE guy for a team in 2020 - go for it - maybe. But there are more teams needing that type of rider Brandon is becoming, so waiting one more year may be wise. Nobody called and asked me, just my thoughts.

MinnMan

It depends on what you mean by "GC". If you mean GC in grand tours, it's hard to imagine that anybody could lead a WT team for a 3 week stage race without having ridden that kind of race before as a domestique. Not that I'm any kind of expert, but I don't think people can get ready for that kind of challenge by doing 1 week stage races at a lower level.

The world is his oyster, but I think if he aspires to make his mark on the WT, he needs to ride at the WT level as an apprentice before he leads. But I admit, I'm no expert and I do know that the WT chews people up and demoralizes them if they get in the wrong situation.