Jorgenson and Visma cite reasons why the aggressive McNulty wasn’t yet at his best in the World Championship Jersey

McNulty has been a frequent sight in the Italian fall racing season lately, with the Giro dell'Emilia on Saturday kicking things off. For a brief moment, the rainbow jersey seemed to give him wings when McNulty pulled away in the final climb up San Luca. However, the man who played a key role in helping him win the world title at the World Championships was now on his toes.

Visma | Lease a Bike was in control on Saturday, as even the strong Tom Pidcock found out. He finished second because Visma had a numerical advantage in the final and played it out brilliantly with winner Davide Piganzoli, blocker Matteo Jorgenson, and wild card Ben Tulett. With that, Jorgenson once again did crucial work, having already blocked for McNulty at the World Championships as his fellow countryman.

"I won't let you go anywhere when I'm wearing black pants," Jorgenson jokingly wrote on his social media accounts after the race. He and Piganzoli managed to close the gap on McNulty, though the American was ultimately left out of the decisive group of five in the very final stretch. McNulty finished tenth, 45 seconds behind.

But it wasn’t just the strong performance by Visma | Lease a Bike and Jorgenson that prevented McNulty from making a winning debut in the rainbow jersey. On his own social media, the brand-new world champion wrote that, just a week after the World Championships in Montréal, he was still getting used to it. “It was clear that I left every bit of my legs—and probably a few bits of my soul—back in Montréal.”

So McNulty’s legs weren’t quite up to it yet, but with the Coppa Agostini, Tre Valli Varesine, and the Tour of Lombardy, there’s plenty to look forward to. “I enjoyed every second in the rainbow jersey. I still miss it a little after last weekend, but there are plenty more opportunities ahead.”