"He rides himself back into the group where Wout van Aert is pacing" - Analyst saw an impressive display of power by Isaac del Toro
Cycling
Is drama at UAE Team Emirates - XRG over after stage 14? For the time being... Perhaps. Juan Ayuso lost even more during the chaotic stage in streets of Nova Gorica and the position of Isaac del Toro as leader is now very comfortable. But tomorrow is a first big mountain test and we might see the GC reshuffle again.
Michael Boogerd noticed that pink jersey Isaac del Toro was also affected by that fall: "He also stood still, but he rides himself back into the group where Wout van Aert is riding at the front," he sees the incredible legs of Del Toro in his analysis for Eurosport.
According to the Dutch pundit, the Mexican hardly even feels his chain at the moment. "That of course says enough about his form. He crossed over on the climb that followed. It will take a lot of effort to ride him out of the pink jersey."
"He is the rider in shape, and then everything often works out. He was in between, but was immediately on his bike and then there was also a climb right after. That made it easier for him to return. You see how attentive you have to be as a GC rider. One fall and the day looks completely different."
The GC situation behind Del Toro changed significantly on Saturday. Teammate Juan Ayuso is no longer the Mexican's immediate chaser as Simon Yates moved up to second overall. Other victor of the day is Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian's gap to pink jersey is unchanged; 2:07, but podium is suddenly within a hand's reach.
Boogerd doesn't expect Ayuso to attack his teammate anyways, seeing the ease with which Del Toro has been riding this whole week. "It will have to come from another rider than Ayuso," he said.
At the same time, Ayuso will more than welcome attacks of other interested to win the Giro and will happily counter their moves with hopes of benefitting himself. "It would look stupid if he attacks his teammate. I would be surprised if that happens. Ayuso has to hope for an attack from Roglic or Yates, and that Del Toro will then fall through."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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