Isaac del Toro smashes Pogacar and Yates record on Jebel Hafeet with historic ride at UAE Tour 2026
Cycling
Isaac del Toro did not just win the queen stage of the UAE Tour 2026. He rewrote its history.
On the iconic slopes of Jebel Hafeet, the Mexican rider produced a stunning time of 25:32, obliterating the previous ascent records held by Adam Yates and Tadej Pogacar.
The climb, 10.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 6.9 percent, has long been the definitive test at the UAE Tour.
For years, it has served as a measuring stick for the world’s best climbers. Pogacar and Yates had turned it into their territory. Now, the benchmark belongs to Del Toro.
A leap beyond the previous benchmark
The scale of the performance becomes clear when placed against the historical data.
The previous outright best time was 26:13, set by Adam Yates in 2023. Pogacar had twice recorded 26:16 in 2021 and 2022, establishing remarkable consistency at the summit finish. Even in 2020, he climbed within touching distance of those figures with 26:33.
Del Toro’s 25:32 is not a marginal gain. It is more than 40 seconds faster than Yates’ 2023 benchmark and 44 seconds quicker than Pogacar’s best marks. On a climb of just over ten kilometres, that margin is enormous.
For context, Jebel Hafeet has produced standout performances across the last decade, from Esteban Chaves’ 27:20 in 2015 through the era of dominance by Pogacar and Yates. The fastest recorded times on the climb now read:
| Year | Time | Rider(s) |
| 2015 | 27:20 | Esteban Chaves |
| 2016 | 29:15 | Tanel Kangert |
| 2017 | 26:53 | Rui Costa, Ilnur Zakarin |
| 2018 | 26:40 | Alejandro Valverde, Superman Lopez |
| 2019 | 26:55 | Alejandro Valverde, Primoz Roglic, David Gaudu |
| 2020 | 26:25 | Adam Yates |
| 2020 | 26:33 | Tadej Pogacar, Alexey Lutsenko, Adam Yates |
| 2021 | 26:16 | Tadej Pogacar |
| 2022 | 26:16 | Tadej Pogacar |
| 2023 | 26:13 | Adam Yates |
| 2024 | 27:49 | Lennert Van Eetvelt |
| 2025 | 27:06 | Tadej Pogacar |
| 2026 | 25:32 | Isaac del Toro |
Record set in the heat of battle
What makes the 25:32 even more striking is how it was achieved. Del Toro attacked decisively in the final kilometres, distanced Antonio Tiberi and sustained an exceptional cadence all the way to the line to overturn the general classification.
In previous editions, the stage has sometimes come down to a reduced sprint, which naturally tempers the pace. This time, the race was driven to the limit from the key acceleration to the summit, and the clock reflected it.
Jebel Hafeet has long defined the UAE Tour. In 2026, it delivered something more: a new reference point for the modern era.
Isaac del Toro did not just win the race in the mountains. He set a time that now stands above Pogacar and Yates, and placed his name at the top of the climb that decides champions.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
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- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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