"I'm in the best shape of my life" - Isaac del Toro appears to be invincible in pink jersey

Isaac del Toro wasn't the main favourite to win the Giro d'Italia two weeks ago, but thanks to strong and consistent performances, the Mexican super talent is now sitting in a VIP seat aboard the UAE Team Emirates - XRG mountain train and the time for his opponents to do something about his overall lead is rapidly running out.

"I think I'm in one of the best shapes of my life," Del Toro said at UAE Team Emirates - XRG press conference held on the final rest day of Giro d'Italia. "This last week is difficult for everybody, but I need to believe I can do it. I want to be smart and do the best we can, and manage things with the team in the last week for the GC."

The whole team has been performing very consistently so far in this Giro and Del Toro hopes to really on his teammates coming into the decisive third week. "I also want to enjoy it with my teammates. They have a lot more experience. I just want to follow them, and I don't want to feel the pressure."

The Mexican notes that UAE are in a perfect position in the GC at the moment. "Obviously, with Ayuso third and me in first, we're in a very good position to defend a bit. We'll have to be very attentive. Fortunately, we are in a great place, so we can put pressure on the other teams."

Del Toro admitted that in orded to win the whole race, he might need to race more tactically, compared to when he followed moves of Bernal in previous stages. "Maybe I'm not so smart sometimes, and maybe I need to think about it more. I'm new in this position," he said.

With that approach, he hopes to defend his currently comfortbale lead: "I know people will try attacks, and I always want to be attentive, be in the best position and defend well. Not by being so offensive, but by being at the front of the race and knowing what is happening. For sure, I follow my instinct sometimes, but I also need to be smarter."