"I mean it doesn't matter which kind of scenario it is" - Confident Del Toro leads UAE into Il Lombardia without Tadej Pogacar
Cycling
Isaac del Toro fronts UAE Team Emirates - XRG's line-up at the final monument race of the year on Saturday. The team are trying to win the race for the sixth year in a row but face an uphill battle without their leader Tadej Pogacar. In his absence, del Toro, Adam Yates and new world champion Brandon McNulty carry the squad's hopes.
The Mexican is among the top favourites for victory in the climbing classic, but faces stern competition in Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas among others for the monument. However, as he returned to action this week, he suggested that knee pain could hinder his chances.
But concerns around the 22-year-old's shape soon faded as he was on the attack at warm-up race Gran Piemonte, suggesting that he could well lead the charge for Emirati squad in Como.
"No, I mean it's going better. Today was the best day. Today in the morning was the best day after Piemonte. When I stand up it's not a big deal, it's when I'm in the saddle. It kind of helps the attack," del Toro told Cycling Pro Net on the eve of the race.
"We are going with the flow, it's not normal. We want to finish it off in Lombardia and we want to do it better. It's not a secret that I had this kind of problem."
Isaac del Toro and Brandon McNulty
Del Toro confident ahead of il Lombardia
He added: "We need to be high with the mentality and also do super good. I don't know, I'm kind of nervous but if the body is doing good, I'm happy."
With multiple other contenders outside the main favourites fancying their chances in a high-profile race without Pogacar, del Toro oozed confidence as he suggested that the climbs will do the talking in the bunch.
"I mean it doesn't matter which kind of scenario it is. For sure the last four climbs will be super hard and then the second last will be kind of the decisive. You never know in this kind of circuit.
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"Everybody has their own plan, it will be super hectic with the teams. Of course we expect a super hard day on the bike."
When it comes to leadership in the team, Adam Yates and Brandon McNulty also carry some weight in the debate. Del Toro suggested that they will back the strongest horse in the Lombardia race.
"At the end me, Brandon, Adam, everybody is flying in the team. We can play a lot of cards. I'm happy to be in this position. Of course if we are with the flow and a good momentum, we take it."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Why? The other guys skipped it, maybe they decided the rest would give them a better chance now so they’re not really racing on equal terms.Jumpyjohn10-10-2026
- Just want to see him riding again, anywhere! Come back soon Pogi!Lozza10-10-2026
- Multiple incidents in just one week in Italy is ridiculous!Lozza10-10-2026
- A victory of 2 minutes after 80h is a heck of a lot closer than in a one day race. Let’s keep things in perspective. It’s also often the result of one good day or a good team effort. In itself it doesn’t really provide much information for comparison of two riders.Jumpyjohn10-10-2026
- Yeah, I laughed at that! And Pogi didn’t even race for 2 stages as he was helping Torito!Lozza10-10-2026
- Good for them. The situation is ridiculous.wrsty10-10-2026
- What a ridiculous headline!Lozza10-10-2026
- They are equal in my opinion, which doesn’t make it easier for anyone.Jumpyjohn10-10-2026
- Ok, thanks for replying to that. Seems to have passed very quietly in an environment always trying to make big news out of small details. Am a little surprised as he really wouldn’t have had to exert himself enormously, he had enough time after and it was not exactly miles away so wouldn’t be surprised if there was more to it, which seems to be the case behind everything these days, like the media have discovered the best way to stay relevant is to reveal details as if it was a series, always holding enough back to create more, as if they feared running out of news ;-)Jumpyjohn10-10-2026
- Now that all the top guys are here, Remco has to win this to prove Euro was not a fluke.abstractengineer10-10-2026
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