‘I didn’t realise how steep the final climb was’: Brandon McNulty reflects on Dubai Tour solo effort near miss

The young American was caught agonisingly close to the line on the uphill finish to Hatta Dam

Brandon McNulty makes a solo break on Dubai Tour stage four (Foto LaPresse - Fabio Ferrari)

(Image credit: LaPresse/ Fabio Ferrari)

Nineteen-year-old American rider Brandon McNulty’s thrilling solo bid for victory at the Dubai Tour stage four came undone within the final 200m because he underestimated the severity of the race’s final ramp.

The Rally Cycling rider had been in the breakaway all day before he left final breakaway companion Conor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport) behind on the race’s penultimate climb.

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Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.