Background and Relevance of Isaac del Toro
Isaac del Toro, a 21-year-old Mexican cyclist, has emerged as the standout rider for the UAE Team Emirates in the Giro de Italia. His impressive performance has solidified his position as the team’s leader, earning him the coveted maglia rosa (pink jersey) in the race.
Del Toro’s Journey to Leadership
In the 16th stage of the Giro de Italia, del Toro narrowly avoided losing the maglia rosa during a challenging mountain stage leading to San Valentino. Despite this setback, he reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for the pink jersey until the end of the race, known as Corsa Rosa.
Following this decision, del Toro was designated as the protected leader of the team for the crucial mountain stages ahead. His teammates, including Juan Ayuso, have shown support, with director Joxean Matxin and Fabio Baldato backing del Toro during a post-rest day video conference.
Team’s Stance on del Toro’s Leadership
The UAE Team Emirates has clearly positioned del Toro as their primary leader, with no indication of a shared leadership role or specific responsibilities for Ayuso. Fabio Baldato emphasized the team’s objective to ride compactly around their leader:
“Our idea, our goal, is for the team to roll compactly around our leader, Isaac.”
Joxean Matxin echoed this sentiment, praising del Toro’s strength and dedication:
“It is clear that Isaac has proven to be the strongest rider in the race, leading by 1 minute and 20 seconds over the second place, based on his own merits.”
Matxin further commended del Toro’s professionalism and sportsmanship, stating:
“He is an extremely honest rider. When asked for help, such as in Tirreno, he offered assistance. In Milán-Torino, he was ready to aim for victory. He is a true professional.”
Del Toro’s Performance and Strategy
Del Toro has earned his leadership position through aggressive riding and time gains in key stages. His efforts have been rewarded with bonification time and strong performances in subsequent stages, extending his lead over competitors.
Although del Toro appears somewhat nervous about the upcoming mountain stages, he remains confident in his ability to secure victory. He stated:
“I believe I am at one of the best moments in my life. This final week is tough for everyone, but I need to believe that I can succeed. I will be smart and do my best, managing things with the team as we approach the general classification.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Isaac del Toro? Isaac del Toro is a 21-year-old Mexican professional cyclist racing for the UAE Team Emirates in the Giro de Italia.
- Why is del Toro relevant in the Giro de Italia? Del Toro has established himself as the team’s primary leader, earning the maglia rosa and demonstrating consistent strong performances throughout the race.
- What is del Toro’s strategy for the remaining mountain stages? Del Toro plans to attack and capitalize on time bonifications while working closely with his team to maintain his lead in the general classification.
- How has the UAE Team Emirates supported del Toro’s leadership? The team has clearly designated del Toro as their leader, with directors Joxean Matxin and Fabio Baldato expressing confidence in his abilities and commitment to the cause.
