Brandon McNulty made history last Sunday by capturing the elite men’s road race title at the UCI World Championships, becoming the first American male rider in 33 years to wear the rainbow jersey.
Ahead of his first appearance in those iconic stripes at Saturday’s Giro dell’Emilia, Colnago has pulled back the curtain on a custom Y1Rs built specifically for McNulty.
The American’s triumph extends UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s hold on the world title to a third straight year, following Pogačar’s back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025. However, where Pogačar’s 2026 Tour de France machine leaned toward restraint, McNulty’s new ride takes a far more striking approach.
Colnago’s design honors both the rider and the city that hosted the championships—Montreal. The aerodynamic frame wears a glossy black coat infused with glitter, a nod to the stars on the American flag.
“Against this deep black background, the traditional rainbow colours are reinterpreted through a bold colour-block scheme, with strong, sharply defined bands of blue, red, yellow and green extending across the frame and rear stays,” the Italian brand explains.
Additional touches elevate the build further. The Colnago wordmark on the down tube carries an iridescent, holographic treatment, while the head tube displays a retro Colnago badge complete with rainbow stripes.
The headset cover incorporates several personal details: the date of McNulty’s win, the ace of clubs, and a Canadian maple leaf.
According to Colnago, the finished product “brings together the rainbow jersey, American pride, Colnago heritage and the story of Montreal in a single frame – with every detail designed to mark the moment when Brandon McNulty became World Champion.”
The Y1Rs itself represents Colnago’s modern take on aerodynamic efficiency, and this particular iteration transforms it into a rolling tribute. The glittering black base serves as a dramatic canvas for the color-block rainbow bands that sweep from the main triangle through to the rear stays, creating a visual identity that is unmistakably tied to the world champion’s jersey.
The holographic logo on the down tube shifts in appearance depending on the light and viewing angle, adding a dynamic quality to the frame. Meanwhile, the vintage-inspired head badge pays respect to Colnago’s long racing history while simultaneously celebrating McNulty’s freshly earned title.
Placing the victory date, the ace of clubs, and the maple leaf on the headset cover ties the bike directly to the specific moment and location of his triumph. The ace of clubs is a personal emblem associated with McNulty, while the maple leaf acknowledges Montreal’s role as host city.
McNulty now joins an exclusive group of American men who have won the elite road race world title. His victory ended a 33-year drought dating back to 1993, and the rainbow jersey will remain within the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad for another season.
The bike is expected to make its competitive debut at the Giro dell’Emilia, where McNulty will race in the rainbow bands for the first time. Fans and equipment enthusiasts alike will be watching closely to see how the Y1Rs performs beneath the newly crowned world champion.
With its blend of flashy aesthetics and meaningful tributes, McNulty’s World Champion Colnago Y1Rs stands as both a functional race machine and a commemorative piece—one that captures a career-defining achievement alongside the heritage of the sport and the spirit of the host city.
