Comparisons to Pogacar unfair on Del Toro says Joxean Matxin: "There’s only one Tadej, and we have to give Isaac time to develop”
Cycling
Bursting onto the scene at the 2023 Tour de l'Avenir, 20-year-old Mexican Isaac del Toro was quickly signed to a pro deal with UAE Team Emirates. Ever since, comparisons have come mentioning Del Toro's name in the same breath as Tadej Pogacar.
Although UAE Team Emirates are very high on the Mexican wonderkid, such comparisons are not welcome according to team boss Joxean Matxin. “They are very different riders and there’s no reason to compare them like that,” the Spaniard says in conversation with Velo. “That’s not fair for a rider who has everything ahead of them. There’s only one Tadej, and we have to give Isaac time to develop.”
“I don’t like comparing riders like this,” Matxin continues, urging calmness and patience as Del Toro continues to develop, as seen with his Grand Tour debut recently at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. “Because then if you don’t the exact same thing as Pogacar, then it might appear as some sort of letdown. And that’s not the case at all.”
Del Toro has certainly had an impressive debut campaign at World Tour level. Taking three wins, (a stage of the Tour Down Under in January, plus a stage and the overall at the Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo in April ed.), Del Toro has shown signs of that very high potential he possesses.
“When Tadej was coming up, it appeared that Egan Bernal was going to win all the Tours. When Tadej won, everyone thought he was going to win five in a row, and then Vingegaard wins, and everyone says that’s it, he’s going to win forever," Matxin continues. “And now we’re back with Pogacar. We have to give everyone their respect and nothing good comes from comparing riders.”
Del Toro taking victory at the Tour Down Under
The Mexican youngster isn't someone who was signed rashly off the back of his impressive Tour de l'Avenir either. Matxin has known of Del Toro's talents for a long time. “Four years ahead he sent me his data and asked my some advice,” he told AS previously. “I helped him secure a two-year contract with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, through an agreement with us, but suggested he race the Avenir first. When he won, we saw that he was already ready for the World Tour. Some 11 teams called him, but due to our connection, it was easy that he joined us.”
“He’s a rider who will have a spectacular level... He is a rider who we believe has a very big future," Matxin concludes.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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