Isaac del Toro has one key issue to address says American ex-pro: "With these considerations, expect him to be up on the monument podiums soon"

At just 21 years old, Isaac del Toro’s 2025 season has catapulted him from promising neo-pro to one of the most complete young riders in the peloton. But even in a year stacked with victories and standout performances, his fifth-place finish at Il Lombardia — while impressive — left some wondering whether a podium might have been within reach.

Former American pro Tom Danielson believes the answer is yes — and that the reason Del Toro didn’t make the podium comes down to one key issue: positioning.

“Del Toro had a great performance,” Danielson said on X (formerly Twitter), reflecting on the Mexican rider’s showing in the final Monument of the season. “And while maybe many would expect a podium, the fact that he was missing just a little bit at the top of the Ganda checks out.”

According to Danielson, the real issue wasn’t legs — it was timing and tactical placement. As the favourites surged into the lower slopes of the Passo di Ganda, Del Toro found himself too far back, mired in a group struggling to respond to the sharp accelerations at the front. “The climb was fast with many corners,” Danielson explained, “which saw ZERO riders who were further back with him make it to the front. He had to use massive energy back there accelerating out of the corners and then a big effort to get to Tadej Pogacar’s wheel while Vine was going deep.”

Del Toro eventually bridged, but the damage had already been done. The initial positioning deficit meant he had to burn valuable matches too early — an unsustainable cost when trying to support teammate Pogacar in the crucial moments of the race. “For context,” Danielson added, “Adam Yates started back in the smoking section with Del Toro but could never even get close to the front.”

His deep effort helped set the stage for Pogacar’s winning move, but it left Del Toro with little in reserve to contest the podium himself — not that it was ever his mission. At Il Lombardia, his role was clear: ride selflessly in service of the team, and his fifth-place finish was a byproduct of both form and commitment.

Despite missing the podium in Lombardy, Del Toro’s fifth-place finish came at the tail end of what has arguably been the breakout season of 2025. He finished second overall at the Giro d’Italia — winning a brutal Alpine stage in Bormio and wearing the maglia rosa for several days — before notching up further victories in the Tour of Austria, Vuelta a Burgos, Milano-Torino, Gran Piemonte, Giro della Toscana, and Giro dell’Emilia among others.

In fact, Il Lombardia marked Del Toro’s third race in a single week, two of which he won outright. “This Fall, he’s been racing non-stop,” Danielson pointed out. “Including three times this week — winning two and helping Tadej win one. Not easy on a 21-year-old.”

His autumn campaign has seen him dominate Italian terrain with mature, aggressive racing, often playing both team leader and super-domestique when needed. At Il Lombardia, he did both: helping UAE Team Emirates teammate Pogacar secure the win while still riding strongly enough to finish fifth himself.

Given Del Toro’s trajectory and Danielson’s insights, it’s clear that the next leap forward might not be physical — but tactical.

Positioning has long been a decisive factor in Monument racing, where narrow roads, high speeds, and split-second decisions can make or break a race. Learning to anticipate these moments, and ensuring he’s where he needs to be before the fireworks start, could be the missing piece in Del Toro’s evolving skillset. “With these two considerations,” Danielson concluded, “I think Del Toro rocked it — and you can expect him to be up on the climbing monument podiums soon.”

For a rider who’s already shown he can thrive in Grand Tours and dominate hilly one-day races, that prediction feels less like a compliment — and more like a warning to the rest of the peloton.