"It was much harder than I imagined" - Isaac del Toro got more than he bargained for in exciting Singapore duel with Paul Seixas
Cycling
Isaac del Toro may have taken victory over Paul Seixas in Sunday's Singapore Criterium, but the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider got more than he bargained for in the heat of racing - the humidity of South East Asia.
The ASO showcase, which borrows the same format of their Tour de France race, brought Del Toro, Seixas and several other of cycling's top riders to Asia for the post-season criterium.
The race in Singapore had a circuit format, and featured a few of the 2026 edition's stage winners. Del Toro took victory after he attacked with just under 4 kilometers to go and took a solo win.
Del Toro dropped Paul Seixas with his late attack. The Frenchman ultimately rode to second place. Soren Waerenskjold sprinted to third place, beating Mauro Schmid into the last place of the podium.
The riders are taking the opportunity to explore the south-east Asian country whilst the European continent begins to endure winter weather. Within the space of a month, most World Tour teams will begin to assemble in Spain for the training camps.
Isaac del Toro won the Singapore Criterium
Humidity surprises Del Toro in Singapore
However, while escaping the cold of Europe, the Mexican rider wasn't expecting a humid circuit to pose such problems as he walked media through the closing segments of the criterium.
"It was much harder than I imagined with the heat and humidity, it was really crazy. Luckily, I had good legs, but it was super hard all day. In the finale, I tried to go solo," del Toro said after the race.
"Paul [Seixas] came back well, but it ended well for me. This rivalry with him is part of the race: sometimes it's him, sometimes it's me, and we enjoy those moments."
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"Right now, I just want to sleep"
Del Toro won the white jersey for best young rider at the 2026 Tour and got to once again don the jersey in the unique race. But as the dust now officially settles on his breakthrough season with UAE, del Toro has only sleep on his mind after a hectic few days.
"It's great to be able to wear this white jersey again and show it off on another continent, it's fantastic and I'm very happy about it. It's also my first time in Asia, so I'm excited to discover this part of the world."
He added: "Now, as for my holiday plans, I honestly don't know yet: right now, I just want to sleep because I'm so tired!"
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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- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling forRafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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