Isaac del Toro is the first Mexican to wear the maglia rosa at the Giro d'Italia - at just 21 years of age. Männiglich wonders whether a new Tadej Pogacar is on the rise.
20.05.2025, 05:30
20.05.2025, 06:51
SDA
Del Toro did not win Sunday's stage, a mini-edition of the spring classic Stade Bianche. Nevertheless, he made a very strong impression with fellow escapee Wout van Aert and was rewarded with the Giro leader's jersey. Del Toro also made history: he was the first Mexican in the 116-year history of the Giro d'Italia to ride in pink on Tuesday after the rest day.
"As a kid, everyone wanted to wear this jersey and now I have it. This is incredible for me," said Del Toro, who is only competing in his second grand tour, in the winner's interview. "Torito" doesn't want to talk about the Giro triumph just yet. "Let's see how it goes in the second and third week."
To Europe at the age of 15
Del Toro is certainly highly talented, as the German news agency dpa has researched. He once left his home country at the age of 15 to realize his dream of making a profit in Europe. In 2023, at the age of 19, he won the Tour de l'Avenir, which is effectively the Tour of France for young professionals - just like Pogacar before him. His offensive riding style is similar to that of the world champion. Del Toro already rides for the UAE team, which also has Jan Christen under contract, in the same racing team as the exceptional Slovenian rider.
They actually want to build him up carefully there and have given him a long-term contract until 2029. At the Giro, Del Toro was only intended as a helper for Juan Ayuso or Adam Yates. Now he already has a lead of more than a minute on his two colleagues, and 2:25 minutes on Primoz Roglic.
Pogacar won the Tour at the age of 21
Sometimes things go much faster than planned, as was the case with Pogacar, who won the Tour de France at the age of 21. However, they firmly reject comparisons with the superstar at UAE. "There is only one Tadej, and we have to give Isaac time to develop," emphasized UAE manager Joxean Fernandez.
In any case, he has put his home country of Mexico back on the cycling map. Raul Alcala once won two stages of the Tour de France, but that was over 30 years ago.