Brandon McNulty didn't have modern tools like a power meter or heart rate monitor with him during his solo run at the Trofeo Calvià last month. Of course, a win is a win, but was there any concern that he was getting too good early in the season?

"I think it's possible, but these days it's never too early to win," McNulty said Wednesday before the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve at Portimao." I'm going to win when I come in and I'm going to use my good form at any time of the year."

McNulty has turned heads in his first two seasons with UAE Team Emirates and last year he made headlines in Paris-Nice and led for three days in Iturria Basque, but has not won in Mallorca since competing in the Giro di Sicilia in 2019 in rally colors.

While charging with a power meter would show consistent progress throughout his WorldTour tenure thus far, McNulty admitted that getting on the podium and being named Palmare would give him more tangible external proof of his growth.

"It's definitely given me more confidence. I've been so close to winning for the past two years, so it was nice to finally get it done and see what it feels like," McNulty said.

"I've had some close calls in other races this year. It's exciting for me."

McNulty is one of the favorites to win the overall this week at the Volta ao Algarve. In addition to the traditional uphill final stages at Alto da Foia and Alto do Marhão, the fourth stage will feature a time trial. Few riders will have ridden for hours on a low-profile bike in the early weeks, but McNulty scouted the road from Vila Real de Santo Antonio to Tavira on Tuesday.

"It's pretty tricky, there's a big climb, and the descent from the climb is pretty technical and fast. It's not a surprise [this length] and it's part of the race." It's good for me to be able to increase my race distance on a time trial bike."

McNulty is the lone leader of UAE Team Emirates in the Algarve and will have more opportunities to pursue stage race honors later in the spring. He will also lead the team in the Tour de Romandie.

"Paris-Nice, the Basque Country, and Romandie are all targets. I want to have a good early season and take a breather before focusing on the Grand Tours, the Tour, and the Vuelta at the end of the year. It's going to be a good season."

McNulty finished 13th overall in his Grand Tour debut, the 2020 Giro d'Italia, and rode as part of the Praetorian Guard that helped Tadej Pogachar win the overall at last year's Tour. 2022, McNulty will domestique the Vuelta in July After serving, he hopes to enjoy his personal freedom.

"If the Tour goes well, the team can give the other riders the freedom to race the way they want. But it's easier said than done because a lot of things have to go right."[23] McNulty recognizes that the generational talent of Pogachar is at the heart of UAE Team Emirates.

"I think it's something I have to accept. It's a great honor to be in the Tour de France and to be part of a team that's going to win the Tour de France for the third year in a row. It's not something you get to do that often in your career. To be a part of winning the Tour is very special for me."

In the meantime, McNulty will have to make the most of the opportunities that begin this week in Portugal. Thursday's summit finish at Alto da Foia, where Pogachar announced he will turn pro in 2019, will be the first major encounter for the overall class contender.

"It should be an interesting race," McNulty said. 'I haven't run this race so I don't know it personally, but there are two tough climbs at the end. It's going to be a super aggressive race and I'm looking forward to it."