McNulty wins closing time trial to clinch Tour of Poland title

American Brandon McNulty won the closing time trial on Sunday to take overall victory in the Tour of Poland.

McNulty, twice the US time trial champion, completed the hilly 12.5 km time trial around the Wieliczka salt mine in southern Poland 12 seconds faster than Italian Lorenzo Milesi of Movistar.

McNulty, who rides for Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG, succeeds Jonas Vingegaard who won the seven-day race last year.

Monegasque rider Victor Langellotti of Ineos, who took the overall lead on Saturday when he edged McNulty on the final climb, was 46 seconds back and ended up fifth overall.

Another Italian, Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain Victorious, finished fourth on Sunday to climb to second overall.

“The way the course was today it was really and all-out effort on the climb and then just a matter of holding on on the descent and flat run-in,” said McNulty.

“At the split I knew I was ahead but you can never be comfortable until the finish line. I’m super happy. It’s my first World Tour win in a GC.

“I didn’t have the perfect start to the season, I had some illness and this is my first win of the year. Today was nice to get a win for Baroncini, who crashed out earlier in the week. We’ve had him in our minds since he left and we wish for him the best in his recovery,” he added.

The week began dramatically when Filippo Baroncini was involved in a heavy crash on Stage 1, forcing his withdrawal from the race. The Italian suffered multiple injuries and is currently safely back in Italy where he is expected to undergo surgery for his facial injuries and begin his recovery.

The victory of McNulty marks a successful week of stage racing for the Emirati squad, with Isaac Del Toro having claimed the overall GC at the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain on Saturday.

The result was a reward for a consistent week of racing by the Mexican, who overcame a flat tyre on stage 5 to produce a valiant ride to second over the line on Lagunas de Neila.

Once he had crossed the line on the race’s final summit finish, the 21-year-old turned around and watched the clock tick by as his overall win was confirmed.

The win tally for the team continues the grow, with 72 victories on the board so far this season.

Agencies