McNulty wins Giro di Sicilia

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Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC) secured overall victory at the Giro di Sicilia after a confident and assured defence of the race lead on the final mountain finish on the slopes of Mount Etna volcano.

The American's closest rivals tried to attack on the steepest section of the 20km climb but Rally UHC set a constantly high pace for much of the climb and then McNulty took over, even going on the attack at one point, to scare off his rivals.

Guillaume Martin (Wanty Groupe-Gobert) made the strongest attack in the final two kilometres to win the stage but McNulty finished just 14 seconds behind the Frenchman to ensure the overall winner's red and yellow jersey was his.

Martin finished second overall, 42 seconds down on McNulty, with Italy's Fausto Masnada (Androni Giocattoli) third at 56 seconds.

McNulty set up overall victory by winning stage 3 in the rain to Ragusa on Friday with a solo attack in the final 15km. He gained 55 on his nearest rivals giving him and Rally UHC a vital cushion of time on the pure climbers before the long climb to the Rifugio Sapienza.

That was the first professional for the 21-year-old from Arizona. Now he has added overall victory. Cyclingnews understands McNulty has been in talks with UAE Team Emirates and so may step up to WorldTour level in 2020.

"I knew what I had to do and I think I used my time trialing ability skills to defend. The attacks went but it was with one kilometre to go and you can't gain much in that short distance. It was just steady Eddy the whole way," McNulty explained.

"It's one heck of a climb. It was a long climb. I think it was an epic last day."

"The team were incredible, they totally sold out for me and I was able to finish it off. It was a hue team effort that's for sure."

McNulty will now head to Portugal and then to Belgium to ride Flèche Wallonne.

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