ANALYSIS | Why UAE were right to leave Isaac Del Toro out of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana
CyclingSunday, 03 August 2025 at 10:16
As the dust settles on the Tour de France, attention swiftly turns to the final Grand Tour of the season: the 2025 Vuelta a Espana, running from 23 August to 14 September. With Tadej Pogacar opting to skip the race, Jonas Vingegaard will start as the overwhelming favourite for the general classification. The Dane, barring any mishaps or residual fatigue from the Tour, is the man to beat.
In Pogacar’s absence, UAE Team Emirates - XRG have chosen to place their faith in João Almeida and Juan Ayuso as co-leaders. But it’s the omission of Isaac del Toro from the Vuelta line-up that has raised a few eyebrows — especially given the Mexican’s stunning form this season.
The Isaac del Toro Conundrum
Del Toro has been one of the revelations of 2025. Still only 21 and in just his second year at World Tour level, he’s already built an impressive palmarès:
- Winner of Milan–Turin 2025
- Overall victory at the Tour of Austria, including three stage wins
- Stage win at the Giro d’Italia, where he wore the maglia rosa for 11 days
- Runner-up in the Giro general classification
- Winner of the Clásica Terres de l’Ebre
- Second at the Clásica de Ordizia, after gifting the win to teammate Igor Arrieta
In light of those results, UAE’s decision to keep him out of the Vuelta might seem counterintuitive. But for those looking beyond form alone, it’s a move that shows careful management rather than caution.
Del Toro starred at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year
Lessons from the Giro
Del Toro’s breakout performance at the Giro d’Italia proved he’s capable of mixing it with elite GC contenders. Yet the race also exposed areas still under development — especially in terms of race craft and decision-making under pressure.
Stage 20, featuring the brutal ascent of the Colle delle Finestre, was a turning point. Del Toro cracked under the weight of expectation, allowing Simon Yates to overturn his lead and take the maglia rosa in the final days. It was a hard-earned lesson in the psychological complexity and tactical nuance of Grand Tour racing.
Since then, UAE have sensibly recalibrated his race calendar. Rather than throwing him back into the deep end, they’ve opted for a more measured approach, with Del Toro rebuilding confidence and honing his skills in shorter stage races and one-day events. His recent wins in Austria and Terres de l’Ebre, and his strong performance in Ordizia, suggest that strategy is paying dividends.
No Need to Rush
While Del Toro might be the long-term successor to Pogacar as UAE’s Grand Tour leader, there is no urgency to fast-track him into three-week races. Pogacar is still only 26, and the team is stacked with proven contenders like Ayuso, Almeida, and Adam Yates.
In contrast to the Giro, where the GC field was solid but not stacked — featuring the likes of Richard Carapaz, Yates, and Derek Gee — the Vuelta is shaping up to be a much tougher battlefield. Vingegaard will arrive in top form, and any rider hoping to challenge him over three weeks will need not only world-class legs but deep experience. At this stage, Del Toro has the former but is still developing the latter.
Del Toro took the win at Milano-Torino 2025
A Smarter Schedule
Instead, UAE will give Del Toro the opportunity to co-lead at the Clásica de San Sebastián and the Circuito de Getxo — alongside Ayuso — as well as race the Vuelta a Burgos. These races still carry weight, particularly San Sebastián as a WorldTour event, but they don’t come with the crushing pressure of leading a Grand Tour.
This schedule gives him a chance to continue building rhythm, confidence, and leadership experience without overexposing him too early in his career. UAE’s long-term bet is clear: nurture Del Toro steadily, rather than gamble on short-term results.
The Right Call for the Bigger Picture
Del Toro’s Giro was no fluke — his talent is unquestionable, and he’s already delivered seven victories in 2025. But burning out a generational prospect by thrusting him into back-to-back Grand Tours would be a short-sighted mistake.
UAE Team Emirates XRG are playing the long game. By holding Del Toro back from the Vuelta, they’re ensuring he develops at the right pace, in the right races, with the right support. His time to challenge for Grand Tour honours will come. When it does, he’ll be better prepared — mentally, physically, and tactically — to make it count.
claps 14visitors 11
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- What does he need to pay Pogi to lead him out?Veganpotter04-12-2025
- Ayuso is not a surprise if you look at his previous 5yrs.Veganpotter04-12-2025
- What do you mean?BenAflec04-12-2025
- Just making the note that it’s actually closer to 120 because most of it is consumed in the first 4 hrs, not evenly across 5 hrs up until the finish.crharnishphd04-12-2025
- WVA dropped TP and his bad knee.Cyclingnut04-12-2025
- Everyone shouts "rider x" is getting better and could beat Pogacar... Tadej is still improving year on year too.....slappers6604-12-2025
- It's not a big blow for Pogacar. Today, Pogacar relies on a close, increasingly Slovenian circle of experts. Among them, the central figure is his longtime friend Ziga Jerman, who took on the role of masseur in 2025. Jerman has known Pogačar since before his global fame, when they cycled together at the Ljubljana club Rog, so Elguezabal’s departure does not pose a threat for Pogi but rather marks the end of a very successful chapter. UAE will have to fill the gap in its professional staff, but for Pogi, this departure will not play an important role.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- OK, enough of this BS. No one went to college or university from kindergarten. First, Remco must graduate from high school with excellent results to meet with the professor Pogacar in university and to be in same room with him. But you see, Pogi the Great also has a PhD (doctorate in cycling). In 2026, I want to see that success from Remco in high school, because I haven't seen it in these 7 years.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- calling him a star in cross before he beats MVDP or WVA is also a big stretch.mij04-12-2025
- I think once he's the undisputed leader in a race, he can become more consistent than he was in the past.Ride197404-12-2025
Loading
3 Comments