Pogačar's Lombardia absence puts world champion McNulty back in the spotlight, against some 'motivated' rivals
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Follow us on GoogleTadej Pogačar is finished for 2026. Despite pushing hard for his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team to let him race at the European Championships, "it isn't going to happen" said his boss. Now that Pogačar can't chase his 6th Lombardy, new World Champion Brandon McNulty has a chance in his brand-new rainbow jersey.
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Pogačar not allowed to race Lombardia
Pogačar trained outdoors last week, exactly four weeks after his Vuelta crash, on his final day in the rainbow jersey.
El País had reported on Monday that Pogačar called Xavier Mir, the surgeon who operated on his collarbone in Barcelona, to ask for formal medical clearance to race. Mir reportedly told him that the recovery was going well and that there was no medical reason stopping him from competing.
Despite Pogačar's desire and the doctor's go ahead, UAE has not budged in public so far. Team boss Gianetti has said that they don't want him to return before the Tour Down Under, in January 2027.
Read more below the photo!
Brandon McNulty was a surprise winner of the World Championships in Montréal
Il Lombardia: who will lead UAE among the falling leaves?
The Giro d'Italia organisers, who also run Il Lombardia, wrote after Montréal that McNulty is expected to line up at Lombardy just two weeks after taking the title. This weekend, McNulty has already been confirmed for the Giro dell'Emilia on Saturday October 3, his first race in the rainbow jersey.
UAE are brining a stacked team to Emilia, including Adam Yates, Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narváez. There is no official word on who leads the team at either race, but with his confidence sky-high after Montréal, you'd imagine it will be McNulty.
Read more below the photo!
McNulty is a key domestique for Pogačar at races like Tour of Lombardy.
McNulty will face World Championship rivals, including Pidcock and Evenepoel
One rider who will be keen to take on McNulty again is Tom Pidcock. After McNulty's World Championship win, Pidcock made accusations that he was helped along by UAE teammate, Isaac del Toro.
Pidcock will face McNulty on Saturday October 3 at the Giro dell'Emilia, where the Brit lines up as the favourite. Pidcock will also race Il Lombardia, another course that suits his punchy talents. The 239-kilometre race starts in Bergamo and finishes in Como.
McNulty will face many of his other Montréal rivals at Lombardy, including Remco Evenepoel, Juan Ayuso and Paul Seixas. After McNulty sprung such a surprise on the field in Montréal, the list of riders out for revenge is long.
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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
- - Pidcock throwing shade about del Toro in Montréal felt a tad salty. Teams always ride tactics; it’s worlds, not a club race. If Tom wants revenge at Lombardia, he’ll need to mark Ayuso and Remco too, not just McNulty. Vamos Brandon, forza UAE!velodromevirtuoso101-10-2026
- - Wait, so Pogačar is “finished for 2026” but also only back at Tour Down Under 2027? Bit confusing—does that mean he’s out for the whole of 2026 season, or is it just no racing until Jan 2027? Can someone clarify the timeline?lindae01-10-2026
- - Brilliant piece. McNulty in the maglia iridata at San Luca is going to be class. If he measures the final laps and doesn’t overcook it early, he can outsprint most on that ramp.raceready701-10-2026
- - Is October 3 correct for Giro dell’Emilia this year? Thought it usually lands the first weekend but the date here looks off by a day. Either way, stacked UAE roster—curious how they juggle Yates/Wellens/Narváez with the new rainbow stripes.jeremya01-10-2026
- - Wild to think Pogačar wanted to race already when Mir said the collarbone was fine, but Gianetti’s playing the long game. If McNulty carries that Montréal snap into Emilia and Lombardia, watch out. His TT engine plus those short climbs = trouble for Remco and Pidcock.davidm01-10-2026
- - McNulty solo win gets one line? Come on, give Brandon some kudos—his timing on Camillien-Houde was spot on, and MvDP covered a lot to set that finale up. Grande artículo, pero faltan detalles de la táctica en Montréal.patriciaw01-10-2026
- - Not sure why the piece keeps circling back to “we’ll see” without new info. Feels a bit padded. Either he races CX or he doesn’t—tell us when he’ll decide.raceready701-10-2026
- - I’d miss the cross battles if he sits out. The last winter run from Namur onwards—13 straight wins and Hulst rainbow—was insane. But resting might be the only way to consistently match Pog next April.jeremya01-10-2026
- - Quick question: the article says the baby is due around the time of the 2027 CX Worlds in Ostend, but earlier it says January with the 2026/this winter schedule. Is that a typo on the year?julien01-10-2026
- - Brilliant season wrap from MvDP. Eight wins, two TDF stages, E3 + Omloop, and bronze in Montréal. If he skips cross, that could sharpen the spring peak for Sanremo/Ronde/Roubaix. Family comes first though—proficiat to him and Roxanne.breakawaybikerd01-10-2026
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