“His level is really good” - Isaac del Toro set to be given leadership opportunities at the Volta ao Algarve following strong start to the season

Having started his neo-pro season with strong performances in Australia, where he podiumed the Tour Down Under, as well as winning a stage and the youth classification, Isaac del Toro is set to compete in his first European stage race with UAE Team Emirates at the Volta ao Algarve.

With João Almeida dropping out of the race due to illness, Del Toro was brought in to replace the Portuguese rider and will be given leadership opportunities along with his fellow neo-pros Jan Christen and António Morgado. They will be joined by Filippo Baroncini, Marc Hirschi, Rui Oliveira and Nils Politt.

Speaking to GCN ahead of the race, the team’s sports manager Matxin Joxean Fernández said “we have a good team going to Algarve and, although Remco Evenepoel is the race favourite, we believe a lot in our younger guys. I want to give them more space so that they can build their confidence”.

Having scouted him for several years prior to his overall victory at last year’s Tour de l’Avenir, Matxin has already been impressed not only by Del Toro’s results this season, but also the way in which he conducts himself off the bike, as he stated that “in Australia, he saw the level of the WorldTour and in the training camp, we saw a rider who had a super good level, who had good numbers and who had the respect of his teammates. His level is really good”.