“I've taken a step forward this year” – Isaac del Toro takes Vuelta a Burgos title and continues breakthrough 2025
Cycling
In the final stage of the Vuelta a Burgos, Isaac del Toro’s
remarkable debut season continued with yet another milestone, the overall race
victory. Already labelled by Tadej Pogacar as the “future” of cycling, the young
Mexican has spent 2025 turning promise into performance, backing up his Giro
d’Italia runner-up finish with a string of results that now include one of
Spain’s most prestigious stage races.
The UAE Team Emirates – XRG rider didn’t take the day’s
queen stage, but his second place on the summit finish was enough to secure the
general classification. In a repeat of their recent duel at the Clásica San
Sebastián, Del Toro launched a decisive attack with less than 3 kilometres
remaining, Giulio Ciccone instantly latching onto his wheel. Behind them, race
leader Léo Bisiaux and Giulio Pellizzari cracked under the pressure.
Ciccone, still recovering from early-race time losses on
stage 1, bided his time before sprinting clear to claim the stage. Lorenzo
Fortunato finished third on the day, while Del Toro rolled in just behind
Ciccone, sealing the GC with a comfortable margin. Yes, yet another win for UAE
in 2025.
The young Mexican’s resilience was tested before the final
climb even began. "The last stage was tricky, I punctured on the last
descent and had a hard chase back on and thought the race might have been
getting away from me, but we maintained the calm and managed to get back in the
race," he explained afterwards.
It’s that composure, paired with his already elite climbing
ability, that has defined his breakthrough season in the WorldTour. "I
feel like I've taken a step forward this year, physically and mentally and I'm
really enjoying my cycling," Del Toro said. "We had a great
atmosphere in the team all week and I'm very grateful for the team and the trust
they show in me."
The Vuelta a Burgos win further cements Del Toro’s place
among the brightest young talents in the sport. His Giro performance, where he held
the Maglia Rosa up until the penultimate day, marked him out as more than just
a prospect. Since then, he has consistently delivered in week-long stage races,
showing that he has the credentials to be a future champion.
For UAE Team Emirates – XRG, the victory is another sign of
their extraordinary depth. With Pogacar, Juan Ayuso, João Almeida, and now Del
Toro, the squad’s general classification arsenal is unmatched in the peloton.
The question now is how UAE will deploy their talent across the three Grand
Tours in the coming seasons, and whether Del Toro will soon make his debut at
the Tour de France.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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