Teams & Riders Brandon McNulty is the Next Great American Hope Thread

[Landeirovic]

Mcnulty in Giro go for stage hunting. In Tour 100% domestique for Pogacar

 

[Ricco']

So far for the Tour they have:

Pogi
Majka
Yates
Wellens
Bjerg
Bennett
Soler

Extra spot for a rouleur like Trentin, another mountain domestique coming from the Giro (Vine hasn't raced much this year and I think he can sustain the double targeting specific stages in Thr Tour or maybe Formolo who did the two races in '21) or a slovenian like Polanc?

I don't see McNulty going to the Tour based solely on the amount of race days he has so far. If he finishes the Giro he will have 50 race days.

 

[Juan Pelota]

You mean for GC or for stage hunting?

I'd like to say him make a run at the top 10 with those 3 TTs. If he falls out of GC contention, it would be great to see him go for a win on a hilly stage.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So far for the Tour they have:

Pogi
Majka
Yates
Wellens
Bjerg
Bennett
Soler

Extra spot for a rouleur like Trentin, another mountain domestique coming from the Giro (Vine hasn't raced much this year and I think he can sustain the double targeting specific stages in Thr Tour or maybe Formolo who did the two races in '21) or a slovenian like Polanc?

I don't see McNulty going to the Tour based solely on the amount of race days he has so far. If he finishes the Giro he will have 50 race days.

I doubt it as well, but to be honest, i'd rather have McNulty than Bennett. The latter's top climbing days seem to have stopped the day he left Jumbo. And while McNulty isn't the top climber either, to me he is the more versatile rider who can really set a high pace that puts a lot of folks in difficulty. Just not in the absolute final of a mountain stage. But with Majka and Yates there, i have to wonder, what use will Bennett be? If they brought him to be 3rd helper or for hilly / medium mountain stages, then i would definitely have preferred McNulty.

 

[Oldermanish]

I doubt it as well, but to be honest, i'd rather have McNulty than Bennett. The latter's top climbing days seem to have stopped the day he left Jumbo. And while McNulty isn't the top climber either, to me he is the more versatile rider who can really set a high pace that puts a lot of folks in difficulty. Just not in the absolute final of a mountain stage. But with Majka and Yates there, i have to wonder, what use will Bennett be? If they brought him to be 3rd helper or for hilly / medium mountain stages, then i would definitely have preferred McNulty.

I agree and wondered why he was part of the Giro squad unless UAE decided it was time to reward him for his aforementioned Tour labor. Excluding him from the Tour team seems like a risk considering the competition Tadej will face.

 

[Juan Pelota]

Welp...his inconsistency shows again. Out of the GC race, although it seems from interviews that his intent was to stage hunt this giro anyway

 

[Potomac]

Welp...his inconsistency shows again. Out of the GC race, although it seems from interviews that his intent was to stage hunt this giro anywayI

I like McNulty but I don't see him ever threatening a podium in a grand tour.

 

[perico]

I like McNulty but I don't see him ever threatening a podium in a grand tour.

That’s why I referred to him as the love child of TJVG and Bobby Julich in Another thread. He’s got the talent, but just doesn’t seem to have the consistency over 3 weeks to compete for a GT.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

That’s why I referred to him as the love child of TJVG and Bobby Julich in Another thread. He’s got the talent, but just doesn’t seem to have the consistency over 3 weeks to compete for a GT.

He should have contested/won more 1 week GC's though. He's certainly good enough for that.

 

[Valv.Piti]

That’s why I referred to him as the love child of TJVG and Bobby Julich in Another thread. He’s got the talent, but just doesn’t seem to have the consistency over 3 weeks to compete for a GT.

Those guys kinda did that at least one time. Brandon has that potential as well IMO, so I think your comparison is spot on. TJ was definitely a bigger star though, mainly due to him getting a breakthrough early on.

 

[Bolder]

He should have contested/won more 1 week GC's though. He's certainly good enough for that.

Absolutely agreed but at UAE he's not the first option.

 

[Oldermanish]

So far for the Tour they have:

Pogi
Majka
Yates
Wellens
Bjerg
Bennett
Soler

Extra spot for a rouleur like Trentin, another mountain domestique coming from the Giro (Vine hasn't raced much this year and I think he can sustain the double targeting specific stages in Thr Tour or maybe Formolo who did the two races in '21) or a slovenian like Polanc?

I don't see McNulty going to the Tour based solely on the amount of race days he has so far. If he finishes the Giro he will have 50 race days.

He may not finish the Giro. Could be the training, early exit and then addition to the Tour squad.

 

[Offline]

How can he miss the breakaway again? He surely one of the strongest, but I guess he most be tactical weak.

 

[Potomac]

Big Mac with freedom fries and a shake, thank you.

 

[Offline]

How can he miss the breakaway again? He surely one of the strongest, but I guess he most be tactical weak.

Well this look stupid now

He was tactical very smat next to Healy.

 

[Juan Pelota]

Claimed in an interview he got sick in the TT. I wonder if he meant the first TT and that is why he had a poor performance in first few days.

 

[Juan Pelota]

Solid ride for fourth today! Best American finish since Dave Z.

 

[jmdirt]

Great ride for B Mc

 

[Unchained]

Great ride for B Mc

Let's go Brandon.. See it can be positive.. And knowing the guy is from Phoenix and the racing scene there ( no disrespect) the man is an awesome talent, he looks to be maturing at each big race and opportunity..

 

[Landeirovic]

Mcnulty looks very strong! In Mallorca he was also very strong with cramps!

 

[Unchained]

I may be confusing the rider, but someone, I thought McNulty had a few early jumps in races this season and experienced cramps and got to the finish, but couldn't finish off the breakaway. I don't put lots of weight value on all these early races w huge bunch together most of the time, minimum climbing

 

[Potomac]

Yes that was McNulty in Mallorca

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I may be confusing the rider, but someone, I thought McNulty had a few early jumps in races this season and experienced cramps and got to the finish, but couldn't finish off the breakaway. I don't put lots of weight value on all these early races w huge bunch together most of the time, minimum climbing

There was a hint in the last post before you posted that it was indeed McNulty.

 

[jmdirt]

Already a win in 2024! Congrats B Mc!

 

[Juan Pelota]

Biggest stage race win of his career.

I didn't see him on the list of UAE riders for any of the GTs this season. That would be a shame. Hope he at least gets ride the Vuelta.

Otherwise it is one week stage races and the Olympic TT.