"He will accept the result that will come, but he wants to win it" - UAE DS Gianetti on Isaac del Toro

UAE Team Emirates - XRG DS Mauro Gianetti will be in the car this afternoon behind Isaac del Toro on what may be the hardest and most important challenge for his pink jersey stint. The Italian, after almost three weeks of brilliant racing, believes his Mexican rider stands a good chance of wining the overall classification.

"It will be a hard day, an important day, there have already been others. Surely it's a very demanding stage. Isaac has recovered well from the effort, he had a day when he didn't have to give everything," Gianetti said before the start of stage 19.

"His reaction in Bormio (stage 17, ed.) was incredible, he is recovering well from the efforts. We believe, we have a forty-second advantage, which is something". On the Passo del Mortirolo he didn't manage to match Richard Carapaz' violent acceleration, but with the catch having been made later, De Toro had enough in the tank to then make the difference in the shorter and more explosive climb (and descent) in the finale.

He has extended the lead over both Carapaz and Simon Yates and although it makes little difference ahead of two stages that are so difficult, mentally it would've given the 21-year old a boost, and at the same time, it was his first stage win. "In any case, we are very proud of what he has done so far, of the discovery of this new dimension of champion," the team attempts to shrug away the pressure as much as possible. 

"The long ceremonies of each day, of the podium, which make him arrive at the hotel later and, above all, the pressure of having become famous in a country that discovers cycling like Mexico. He is recovering well and we are very confident".

Del Toro for Gianetti is not only a talent on the bike, but also off the road, listening to advice and working accordingly: "He's a very quick learner, he listens and learns. He trusts his teammates, he trusts the sports directors".

"He knows that the advice they give him is the best and that puts him at ease. Above all, he is reassured to know that he has done the best he could to prepare for this Giro d'Italia. He will accept the result that will come, but he wants to win it".