Isaac Del Toro ahead of Gravel Worlds: "It’s a new experience. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible"

The Gravel World Championships take place this Sunday for the men's Elite and it includes a big startlist with a quality field. It features cyclocross specialists, former road racers, top amateurs and pure road riders such as Isaac Del Toro who is making his debut racing in the gravel at this level.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s a new experience. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible, but it’s also tough," Del Toro told Wielerflits this morning at the start of the race. “I hope to compete in the final. It’s a new sport for me and I want to gain some experience. But I also just want to have fun today.”

Del Toro won't start the race with big ambitions but it will be very interesting to see what the UAE Team Emirates rider will be able to do. As a climber, this isnt a route that particularly suits him, but the Mexican's presence at the start indicates his comfort riding off-road and he could well feature among the best.

“I sometimes ride on gravel, but not in competition. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m going to give it my all," he assures. In a field that includes the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Matej Mohoric and Tim Merlier, Del Toro adds yet another type of rider to an already luxurious startlist.