"Isaac del Toro can force Visma into a mistake" - Johan Bruyneel on UAE's key to the Tourmalet and beating Vingegaard
CyclingThursday, 09 July 2026 at 10:44
The preview of stage six of the Tour de France dominated the discussion on THE MOVE, where Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin dissected the first major test for the general classification contenders.
With the Col d'Aspin and the Tourmalet as the key obstacles before a long descent and a gentle rise to the line, both agreed on Lance Armstrong’s podcast that the day will deliver the race’s first major selection, though they doubt it will decide the Tour outright.
One name resurfaced strongly in the conversation: Isaac del Toro. Both Bruyneel and Martin believe the Mexican could become one of UAE’s sharpest tactical weapons, especially if Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar mark each other closely again. We will see if there are meaningful changes in the general classification.
“If the race turns tactical, there’s always the option to say: ‘Isaac del Toro attacks. What are you going to do now?’” suggested Spencer Martin while mapping out potential stage scenarios.
For the American analyst, that possibility makes the young Mexican a strategic asset no other team can match.
Bruyneel expects Visma to make moves
Johan Bruyneel thinks Visma-Lease a Bike cannot ride passively and expects the Dutch squad to try to reprise a strategy they have used successfully in the past: “I think Visma are going to try to put riders in the break,” he explained.
The Belgian recalled the Tour stage where Wout van Aert made the break, crested the Tourmalet, and later helped Jonas Vingegaard after the descent. “I expect something similar,” he added.
However, he also believes UAE will be fully alert to that possibility: “The question is whether UAE will allow that to happen. Probably not.”
Tadej Pogacar is the best cyclist in the world
Pogacar remains the clear favorite
Despite the tactical unknowns, Bruyneel still has Tadej Pogacar as the leading candidate to raise his arms: “I wouldn’t attack if I were him,” he admitted.
The former sports director argues the Slovenian does not need to take risks on a route that finishes with a steady rise after a long descent. He noted that even if Pogacar distances Vingegaard on the Tourmalet, many favorable kilometres remain for the group to reorganize.
Instead, he believes the world champion holds another edge that is far harder to neutralize: “He’s the fastest of them all. He has the best acceleration.”
He therefore envisions a finish where Pogacar waits for the final metres to launch a short attack and pocket a few seconds along with the bonuses.
Del Toro, the perfect alternative
Spencer Martin, however, sided with Isaac del Toro as a possible stage winner. Not because he sees him as stronger than Pogacar, but for the tactical options he brings within the team: “If everyone starts marking each other, Del Toro can attack.”
The American developed that idea, picturing a scenario where Pogacar and Vingegaard shadow each other while the Mexican opens a gap. “Are they going to chase him and do Pogacar’s work, or let him go?” he wondered.
Bruyneel conceded that scenario is entirely plausible. “It’s a good alternative,” he replied. He also added that Del Toro would hold an edge even over other young prospects like Paul Seixas: “He’s faster than him.”
For the Belgian, if both reach the finish together, the Mexican would start with a clear advantage.
Bruyneel believes the severity of the Tourmalet will whittle the favorites’ group down to very few riders: “There will be three, four, or five riders left. No more,” he predicted.
That will help establish who is truly ready to fight for the podium and who will start to shed significant time. While he does not expect huge gaps between Pogacar and Vingegaard, he does think other big names could suffer.
“I don’t rule out Remco or Ayuso losing time.”
The Belgian argues that a bad day in this first major mountain test could badly damage their ambitions for the rest of the Tour.
Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, at the Tour de France.
Heat, another major enemy of the Tour
The conversation also tackled the huge impact of the high temperatures. Bruyneel revealed striking figures about the work teams are doing to combat the heat: “A team can go through between 250 and 300 bottles per stage and around 100 kilos of ice per day.”
He explained that new research shows lowering core temperature significantly boosts performance. However, he also issued a warning: “My concern is that so much cold ends up causing colds or sore throats.”
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He even recalled a curious habit of Miguel Indurain during his years of dominance. “He never allowed the air conditioning to be turned on in the team car.”
While acknowledging that current methods have evolved significantly, Bruyneel believes the balance between cooling and health will remain a key factor over the coming weeks. To close the show, both agreed that stage six will not decide the Tour de France, but it will mark a turning point in the race.
“I don’t think the Tour will be won tomorrow,” Bruyneel stated. He did add an important caveat: There will definitely be riders who lose time they won’t be able to get back.”
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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