The slopes of Bukowina Tatrzańska witnessed something special this last weekend. Victor Langellotti, Monaco’s climbing specialist riding now for Ineos Grenadiers (previously Burgos-BH ) unleashed a finish for the ages to claim not only his first-ever World Tour victory but also the leader’s yellow jersey on the penultimate day of the Tour de Pologne.
The 30-year-old attacked with precision and power, clawing back what looked like a decisive move from American Brandon McNulty. The UAE Team Emirates rider had surged 150 metres clear with just 400 metres to go, but Langellotti’s relentless sprint reeled him in before the line, sealing a win that carried both sporting significance and national pride. He is the first cyclist from Monaco to win on the World Tour.
“I went all-in,” Langellotti could have said with a smile, and it would have been no exaggeration. The effort was monumental. By day’s end, he had a ten-second cushion over McNulty in the general classification, though the American’s prowess against the clock in Sunday’s 12.5 km time trial around Wieliczka left the outcome hanging in the balance.
A Rise That’s Been Building
For close followers of Langellotti, this breakthrough won’t come as a shock. Earlier this summer, he made headlines with a runner-up finish in the overall standings at the Tour of Norway, his first general classification podium. He is racing more proactively, taking the initiative. That change in mindset was rewarded with a leap of 627 places in the UCI rankings and, more importantly, the kind of confidence you can’t fake.
A Shake-Up in the Standings
The Frenchman Paul Lapeira, once in yellow, couldn’t hold his lead, slipping out of contention. The best-placed French rider heading into the final day was Rudy Molard — a Côte d’Azur resident — in 14th, 44 seconds back.
With one stage left, the story wasn’t finished even with Langellotti’s name already in the history books.
Langellotti vs McNulty: What Unfolded Finally
Going into the penultimate stage (Stage 6), Victor Langellotti had taken the yellow jersey with his stunning uphill sprint finish, gaining the 10-second GC advantage over McNulty. This stage win marked a historic milestone. Langellotti became the first Monégasque rider to win a WorldTour stage or wear the yellow jersey. However, McNulty’s time-trial prowess proved decisive: in the very next and final stage, he erased the deficit and surged to overall victory. The final standings: 1st: Brandon McNulty, 5th: Victor Langellotti, at +39 seconds behind .
In Summary, McNulty ultimately won the Tour de Pologne, turning his second-placed position into a GC triumph thanks to a commanding time trial. Langellotti rode the race of his life, taking a historic stage victory and wearing yellow. In the end, he finished 5th overall, 39 seconds behind McNulty.
Monaco has a new sporting hero, and he wears the smile, and the jersey, of a man who just proved himself on cycling’s biggest stage.
