Honestly, I’ve got some pain in my knee and thigh" - Isaac del Toro feeling affects of Giro d'Italia crash despite extending Maglia Rosa advantage

Isaac del Toro tightened his grip on the Maglia Rosa after a crash-marred Stage 14 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia. The Mexican rider was among many who hit the ground during a treacherous, narrow descent made even more dangerous by rain. But he managed to get back on his bike quickly and rejoin the front group.

Speaking to the Italian press after the stage — which saw him extend his lead over teammate Juan Ayuso and pre-race favourite Primoz Roglic — Del Toro recounted the chaos: “When the riders in front of me went down, I braked, but it was complicated. Someone had already hit me, so I crashed too. But I was able to get back up and rejoin the front group. The peloton was very tense. In the second part of the stage, I focused on riding as safely as possible. In the end, it was just another day of racing.”

Looking ahead to the start of the high mountains on Sunday, Del Toro kept his trademark low profile, emphasizing team strategy over personal ambition: “Nothing changes for me. I’ll talk with the team and see what the plan is. My mindset is the same — taking it day by day. I feel good on the bike, and tomorrow could be a beautiful day. It will all depend on the team’s strategy.”

He also acknowledged that gaining time because of crashes isn't how he wants to succeed — even though such misfortunes are part of the sport: “It’s all about how the race unfolds, and sometimes luck plays a role. Today, circumstances worked in my favour, but of course, this isn’t the way you want to build an advantage. We all know that in cycling, these things happen. You just take it one day at a time.”

The crash left him with some noticeable discomfort, as he explained afterwards: “It was the weather and just bad luck that caused the fall. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit off. I’ve got some pain in my knee and thigh, so we’ll see how it evolves day by day. I just hope everyone who went down is okay. Now it’s time to eat well and rest properly.”

As for whether Sunday marks the start of a 'new Giro' with the mountains looming, Del Toro played down the suggestion, saying he’s ready for what’s to come: “It’s still the same race — just with mountains now. We’ll see how it goes. Obviously, they’ll try to attack me, and I hope I can stay as far up the road as possible.”