Isaac del Toro hesitates to extend with UAE as Paul Seixas transfer talks threaten his future role at the team
Cycling
Isaac del Toro accompanied Tadej Pogacar to a Tour de France podium this July as UAE teammate, although it's hard to say who has worked for the other more over the course of three weeks. In any case, this duo is currently set to stay together at the Emirati team at least through 2029 when Del Toro's current contract runs out. But... will that even be true?
The Mexican climber has certainly lived up to the public expectations of a powerhouse in the mountains and a top-tier GC contender over the past two years; first with a second place overall at Giro d'Italia 2025, and now with a further podium at Tour de France.
But it's unclear to what extent does his current contract reflect his status of one of the world's best GrandTour captains.
However the signals from UAE Team Emirates - XRG would point to the 22-year-old being rather undervalued on his current contract - as they reportedly seek to renegotiate its contents and possibly expand its duration to a new decade.
Cycling journalist and transfer expert Daniel Benson points out that Del Toro's side is keeping a status quo regarding these new transfer talks amidst speculations of possible Paul Seixas transfer.
Seixas is the most-wanted man of cycling
The French supertalent finished 4th at the most recent Grande Boucle, just shy of Del Toro's podium position, but certainly did not disappoint the home crowds with his performance. With a contract set to expire at the end of 2027, the 19-year-old has been naturally approached by mutiple teams looking to build legacy around Seixas. And the richest team UAE of course isn't absent from these talks.
Paul Seixas ends the Tour de France in fourth place
We don't need to stress further how packed is the UAE roster already with Pogacar, Del Toro and Joao Almeida as GC leaders - after all it's what caused Juan Ayuso's departure - and the hypothetical arrival of Seixas could threaten the current number two position of Del Toro.
Nothing might happen, in the end
Fortunately for Del Toro, it seems as though Seixas' current team Decathlon CMA CGM is committed to "match any offer" for their French gem, even willing to go as far to show their commitment as to let the 2026 Giro d'Italia runner-up Felix Gall leave for Lidl-Trek at the end of this season.
Thus, Benson concludes that the eventual contract renewal for Del Toro is still most likely set to happen, although it will have to wait for until Seixas confirms his plans beyond 2027. And whether UAE is part of them.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
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