🎥 TV cameras show Del Toro talking to McNulty moments before the decisive World Championship attack
CyclingTuesday, 29 September 2026 at 13:25
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Follow us on GoogleTom Pidcock's accusation got the Isaac del Toro row going, but the suspicion started before the finish line. During Sunday's World Championship road race in Montréal, Belgian TV commentators reacted severely when Del Toro and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Brandon McNulty were seen talking at the back of the favourites' group. A few kilometres later, McNulty rode away to the rainbow jersey. Nobody outside the pair knows what they said.
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Del Toro and McNulty seen chatting before winning attack
Power analysis of the race puts the moment at 36 kilometres from the finish. Del Toro had just unsuccessfully attacked, and he and McNulty were chatting at the back of the chase group. No one, except the two men, knows what was said.
But Six kilometres later, McNulty (successfully) attacked while Del Toro was at the front of the group, no one reacted, and within a few kilometres the American had a 30-second lead.
McNulty was several riders back when he went, coming out from behind Mathieu van der Poel and riding straight past Pidcock. The whole group watched him go. It was a perfectly timed move, not least because there were several camera motorbikes in front of him too.
Belgian commentary and an online storm
Velo reports that the Belgian commentators kicked off when the two were spotted talking, and that online chatter has been full of speculation ever since. Some fans believe Del Toro was, in Velo's words, metaphorically "bought out" by Team USA. Velo itself chose not to follow those theories any further.
The suspicion was there before the race. On 24 September, Sporza wrote about training photos Del Toro had posted on social media, in which he rode in Canada with McNulty and Austria's Felix Grossschartner.
The Belgian broadcaster asked openly whether Del Toro was Mexico's leader or mainly UAE's trump card. The issue had already cost Belgium a rider, as Tim Wellens ruled himself out due to trade team loyalties.
Matthews: 'A little bit of teamwork between certain riders'
Pidcock was not the only rider who thought something was off. Michael Matthews won the sprint for silver, 13 seconds behind McNulty, and questioned some riders' motivations in the chase group. He did not name Del Toro, but the meaning was plain.
There was a little bit of teamwork between certain riders. They were riding a little bit together. If fewer teams had ridden together across national borders, then we would have caught him. It is what it is.- Michael Matthews after the 2026 World Championships
Isaac del Toro's motivations have been questioned
UAE masseur also questions Del Toro's motivations
Speaking to Sporza after the race, someone inside the UAE camp said much the same as Matthews and Pidock.
Talking about the new world champion, someone he knows very well, the UAE's Belgian masseur De Vos pointed to the strength of the American team, but also Del Toro's position as McNulty's trade teammate.
Jorgenson reacted to every move. And Del Toro is a teammate at UAE, I don't think he wanted to bring Brandon back.- UAE masseur De Vos (translated from Dutch)
The other explanation: fifty kilometres on the front
There is a simpler reading. Del Toro had looked like the strongest rider in the race until his legs went in the final, and that spending around 50 kilometres towing the chase group most likely wore out the 22-year-old. Isaac del Toro hit back at Pidcock's criticism, saying "All the other teams remained passive."
But his behaviour on the last lap did raise quesitons. Velora Cycling points out that when Pidcock and Giulio Ciccone cut McNulty's lead to around ten seconds, it was Del Toro who closed the move down, causing the chasers to sit up. Del Toro has rejected any suggestion that he held back.
McNulty's own account of the attack contains no secret plan, only an old trick. He told Sporza that he knew from the GP de Montréal that the group would be small and tired in the finale.
When you go then, there's usually hesitation. I hoped they would look at each other, and that worked.- Brandon McNulty to Sporza (translated from Dutch)
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Great write-up but a tad harsh on Del Toro. He’d been drilling it for 50k, of course he faded. Also, Belgium moaning after Wellens sat out for “loyalties” is a bit rich, no? Sport’s messy. C’est la vie, así es el ciclismo.pedalpowe2929-09-2026
- - I’m with Matthews and a bit with Pidders here—Del Toro shutting down the Ciccone/Pidcock bridge when the gap was ~10s looked sus. Even if he was cooked, why close your own chance? Smells off.jennifer1929-09-2026
- - Can someone explain why riders from the same trade team would help each other at Worlds when they’re on different national teams? Is that actually allowed or just kind of… unspoken?tourdeforce929-09-2026
- - That move from McNulty was textbook GP Montréal stuff: late, from a few wheels back, into the motorbike draft zone, and everyone looking at each other. Perfect timing, no need for conspiracies.cadencekingm29-09-2026
- Brilliant from McNulty, deserved the arcoíris. Matthews gracious in public but clearly frustrated—understandable. Worlds always blurs lines with trade teammates; c’est la vie of modern cycling.sprocketspiny29-09-2026
- Not sure I buy the author’s angle. Lots of insinuation, light on actual evidence. Chatting doesn’t equal collusion. Show me the watts and the timing gaps, not TV outrage.cadencekingm29-09-2026
- Del Toro did a ton of work earlier, folks seem to forget that. If you’ve burned 50km on the front, that “hesitation” can just be empty legs. Happens all the time in late race scenarios.robert6529-09-2026
- I don’t quite get the controversy — are riders allowed to talk during the race at Worlds? Is that normal or is it frowned upon because they’re on national teams not trade teams?cyclechamp4529-09-2026
- Proper ride from Bling. After the seasons he’s had, silver in Montréal is massive. McNulty timed that move perfectly and the US rode it smart. Hard to argue with the result.tourdeforce929-09-2026
- - UAE calling time on his season made sense post-Vuelta crash, but they’ve caved before when Tadej sets his mind to it. If his doctor says a one-day effort is safe, I can see them letting him roll, test the back, then Il Lombardia the week after. Vamos, gremo Tadej!lindae29-09-2026
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