"I don't know how this all happened" - UAE Team Emirates' Mexican wonderkid Isaac del Toro podiums on senior debut at Down Under Classic
Cycling
Competing in his first professional race, Isaac del Toro surely couldn't have dreamed of a much better performance. The 20-year-old Mexican finished third at the Down Under Classic.
"It's really good! This is only my first pro race and I'm already in front. I fought on the bike and finishing in the front is one of my greatest performances since I started in this sport," the former Tour de l'Avenir winner told Cyclism'Actu post-race.
Part of a somewhat inadvertent breakaway, del Toro admits he didn't initially realise the chance that was being presented to him. "I didn't even realise the moment when it became certain that the breakaway was going to stay in front," he admits. "All I did was try to appreciate the race and take the strongest relays."
"I don't know how all this happened, nor how the peloton didn't catch up with us. It was difficult for me to sprint because I didn't have much experience in sprinting. I just tried to do my best," concluded the UAE Team Emirates prodigy. "I knew the riders who accompanied me in the breakaway, but I knew them as a fan, not as a friend or colleague. I loved it!”
With del Toro taking third, the top two spots on the podium were taken by runner-up Natnael Tesfatsion and winner, Jhonatan Narvaez.
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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First podium as a #UAETeamEmirates rider. Well done @ISAACDELTOROx1 👏. #WeAreUAE
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