UAE Tour Time Trial Dominance: Brandon McNulty Wins and Takes Over Leader’s Jersey

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 1:32 PM

UAE Emirates’ dominance was complete in the UAE Tour time trial. The victory went to Brandon McNulty, who also took over the leader’s jersey from Tim Merlier. His teammates Jay Vine and Mikkel Bjerg finished in second and third place.

Last year the UAE Tour included a team time trial, this time there was an individual time trial again. Some favorites for the overall victory started early. Among them was Brandon McNulty, who completed the 12.1 kilometer long, billiard-level course at an average of almost 54 kilometers per hour. It earned him the spot on the hot seat op.

The American champion was expected to stay there for a while. And indeed, at first no one really came close. For example, Pello Bilbao, also one of the contenders for the overall victory, gave up 19 seconds and was in second place for a while. Top favorite and former winner Adam Yates lost 28 seconds to his teammate McNulty.

McNulty started early – photo: Cor Vos

It was then mainly other UAE Emirates riders who came close to McNulty. Mikkel Bjerg needed four seconds too much to outpace his teammate McNulty, while Jay Vine was only two seconds short. In the subsequent phase, McNulty did not have to worry, because the top five did not change for a long time. At this point, Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious) and Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) were fourth and fifth.

I want the UAE Emirates-podium
Would the danger then come from Tobias Foss? It didn’t seem like it halfway through. The former world time trial champion, who rode with a 68 front blade, already lost 14 seconds at the first intermediate point. The wind had increased somewhat during the day, so he managed to reduce his deficit by one count in the second part of the time trial – with the wind at his back. But that still left him thirteen seconds behind McNulty. The UAE Emirates podium also remained intact.

There was no change in the remainder of the time trial either. McNulty won the time trial, ahead of Vine and Bjerg. It was a double blow for McNulty: he also took over the leader’s jersey from Tim Merlier.

2024-02-20 12:32:00
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