"I don't know if he's still angry, we haven't really talked since" - Isaac del Toro on outcome of spat with Richard Carapaz at Giro d'Italia

Isaac del Toro has had a breakthrough season, achieving over a dozen wins - dominating the late-season Italian autumn classics, and proving himself as a Grand Tour rider with a fabulous Giro d'Italia in which he surpassed every expectation. He has talked about that Giro, his mentally and more.

"It still hurts a little bit even now, it's not the way that you want to lose a race when you've been leading it for so long. I wanted to finish it differently but I was only one step from victory," Del Toro said in an interview with Cyclingnews. "I never imagined before the Giro that I'd have so much success. It was still a huge step forward in my career".

It was a physical step up as well, with the Mexican showing his versatility with an amazing display in the 'mini Strade Bianche' stage where he put on the pink jersey; plenty climbing exhibitions that equalled the best in the race; and handling the extreme media pressure that UAE Team Emirates - XRG had on the daily due to the co-leadership of him and Juan Ayuso in the race.

He lost the Giro in its final competitive stage, when he and Richard Carapaz didn't manage to catch the attacking Simon Yates on the Colle delle Finestre, and then let the gap balloon in the following kilometers. It was a tough hit to take for Del Toro.

However, he believes that he can learn and grow from the disappointment. "It taught me so much and made me realize the type of rider and person that I want to be in the future. I also appreciate all the opportunities that I've had in my life so far, I know they can disappear quickly, so I have to appreciate them."

However what may not be fixed is a potential relationship with Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian on that day was mad that Del Toro didn't collaborate on the Finestre, and then took the decision to not work after the summit of the climb. Both were overtaken by Yates in the overall classification.

"I don't know if he's still angry, we haven't really talked since but it's nothing personal on my part," he says. "I have a lot of friends in the peloton and don't have a problem with anyone but I don't have a relationship with him."

It is expected that soon the UAE leaders will announce their schedules and Del Toro should be heading back to the Giro with a full leadership role this time around; whilst Tadej Pogacar and João Almeida will race the Tour de France (with the latter putting focus on the Vuelta a España as well).

"If you see how much I work to be successful, you wouldn't call it talent. Perhaps some riders have something that makes them better than others but maybe it's just mental and maybe we just work hard to be the best version of ourselves," Del Toro believes. 

After two full years in the pro ranks, he's fully adapted to the life of a top pro, and his potential for the future is beyond what most could dream of. However he doesn't quite see it like that. "I don't believe I'm a super talent. I want to believe that I work enough to be able to be up there".

"I feel privileged to be in this position. I know it's not normal and so I'm thankful to the team and all the people around me for their help. I've developed as a rider, we can see that in my numbers, but I've also developed as a person," he assures.