The McNulty Del Toro alliance debate followed Brandon McNulty’s victory at the Montréal road worlds, after rivals questioned the chase behind the American.
Tom Pidcock and Michael Matthews both raised doubts after Sunday’s elite men’s road race. They suggested McNulty may have gained from Isaac del Toro’s presence in the decisive group.
McNulty attacked with 32km remaining and rode clear to claim the rainbow jersey. The victory gave the United States its first elite men’s road world title in 33 years.
Del Toro, racing for Mexico, had been active throughout the final two hours. When McNulty went clear, Del Toro hesitated near the front of the group.
That moment helped define the closing phase. The chase became disjointed, with riders appearing unwilling or unable to commit fully.
McNulty later acknowledged how deep he had gone. He said he could only manage “zone two” as he fought toward the finish.
McNulty Del Toro alliance claims enter worlds debate
Pidcock finished seventh after making several efforts in the closing laps. He said the race became hard to change once McNulty had his gap.
The British rider pointed to the strength of the United States team. He also noted Matteo Jorgenson’s influence after McNulty launched his move.
Pidcock then brought Del Toro into the discussion. He said Del Toro was on McNulty’s trade team and later argued Del Toro was “working for McNulty.”
McNulty and Del Toro both race for UAE Emirates-XRG. They have been teammates there since 2024.
The pair have also worked together in support of Tadej Pogačar. That included appearances at the recent Tour de France.
They shared leadership duties for UAE at the Canadian Grands Prix in the weeks before the Montréal worlds. Their trade-team connection became a major talking point after Sunday’s race.
Questions about trade-team loyalty often surface at the road world championships. National teams decide the race, but many riders spend most of the season working for the same employers.
That tension had already affected the Belgian squad. Tim Wellens ruled himself out of the race, citing the awkward prospect of chasing UAE teammate Pogačar or facing criticism for not doing so.
Matthews says cross-border teamwork affected the chase
Matthews also suggested the chase suffered because riders from different national teams rode in alignment. He did not directly name McNulty or Del Toro.
The Australian said there was “a little bit of teamwork between certain riders.” He added that fewer cross-border alliances may have allowed the group to catch McNulty.
Matthews won the sprint for silver, 13 seconds behind McNulty. His result came after months disrupted by injury and illness.
The performance marked a major comeback in his 14th road worlds appearance. Yet the post-race discussion centered heavily on what happened behind the winner.
Belgian television commentators also reacted when Del Toro and McNulty appeared to speak near the back of the group before the decisive attack. Online debate then grew across social platforms.
There remains another possible explanation for Del Toro’s fading influence. The 22-year-old spent around 50km helping drive the chase before McNulty attacked.
That workload may have left him without the power to respond. He had looked among the strongest riders before the final selection shifted.
Pidcock still believed the race dynamic changed once the American escaped. With the wind, tired legs, and multiple interests in the group, the chase lost cohesion.
McNulty took advantage of that hesitation. Whether Del Toro’s reluctance was tactical, physical, or simply the result of exhaustion remains the question hanging over Montréal.
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