OFFICIAL: Isaac del Toro commits long-term future to UAE with 2031 extension just days after reported uncertainty - “I know I’m in the right place”
CyclingThursday, 06 August 2026 at 11:00
Isaac del Toro has signed a new contract with UAE Team Emirates – XRG until the end of 2031, committing the central years of his career to the team just days after uncertainty was reported around fresh negotiations.
Del Toro was already tied to UAE through 2029, but reports at the beginning of August claimed his camp was not rushing to extend that agreement. Cycling journalist Daniel Benson reported that the Mexican’s representatives were waiting to see how the situation surrounding Paul Seixas developed amid speculation linking the Frenchman with a future move to UAE.
Five days later, the picture looks markedly different. UAE have added another two years to Del Toro’s existing deal, securing the 22-year-old until he is 28 and placing him firmly at the heart of their plans beyond the immediate pursuit of further success with Tadej Pogacar.
The agreement follows a season in which Del Toro has moved decisively beyond the status of promising understudy. He won the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour Auvergne – Rhone-Alpes before finishing third overall, winning a stage and claiming the white jersey on his Tour de France debut.
Del Toro makes long-term UAE commitment
“I’m very happy to continue this journey with UAE Team Emirates – XRG,” Del Toro said in the team’s announcement. “From the moment I joined the team, everybody has believed in me and given me the best environment to develop as both a rider and a person.”
The Mexican joined UAE after winning the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir and made an immediate WorldTour impact with a stage victory and third place overall at the 2024 Tour Down Under.
His rise accelerated dramatically at the following year’s Giro d’Italia. Initially expected to work for Juan Ayuso, Del Toro instead took the pink jersey, won the stage to Bormio and held the race lead until the penultimate day before eventually finishing second behind Simon Yates.
That Giro placed Del Toro among cycling’s leading Grand Tour prospects. His 2026 Tour confirmed that he was already capable of riding for a podium while also operating within a team built around Tadej Pogacar.
Del Toro won the second stage in Barcelona and stayed among the leading general classification riders throughout the race. Pogacar later helped protect his teammate’s podium position as Seixas closed in during the final mountain stages.
New deal follows reports over Seixas and UAE hierarchy
Seixas finished fourth overall at the Tour, directly behind Del Toro in both the general classification and the battle for the white jersey. The 19-year-old remains contracted to Decathlon CMA CGM Team until the end of 2027, although UAE have been linked with an attempt to recruit him. His possible arrival would add another major stage-racing talent to a squad already containing Pogacar, Del Toro and Joao Almeida.
Juan Ayuso’s departure had already exposed the difficulties created by placing several Grand Tour ambitions inside the same structure. Del Toro’s own position has changed quickly since then, with podium finishes at both the Giro and Tour before his 23rd birthday.
UAE have not announced Del Toro’s future race programme or revealed whether leadership assurances formed part of the new agreement. His decision to extend until 2031 nevertheless removes any immediate prospect of him seeking a clearer route elsewhere.
“This team feels like home,” Del Toro said. “We share the same ambition, the same passion for racing and the same desire to keep getting better. Signing long-term gives me a lot of confidence because I know I’m in the right place for my future.”
He added that the best was still to come and reiterated his desire to fight for the biggest races in the world.
UAE retain a proven Grand Tour contender
Del Toro would already command sole leadership at most WorldTour teams. He has finished second at the Giro and third at the Tour, while his acceleration and finishing speed have also brought victories across one-week races and selective stages. His extension gives UAE another established Grand Tour contender rather than merely a rider being developed for the years after Pogacar.
The remaining issue is opportunity. Pogacar is still the team’s undisputed Tour leader, Almeida has his own Grand Tour ambitions and UAE’s reported pursuit of Seixas would make an already crowded hierarchy even more competitive.
Del Toro has nevertheless chosen continuity after the finest season of his career. By extending a contract that still had three years left to run, UAE have secured one of cycling’s leading young riders well before his future became an immediate negotiating problem.
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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- it is reported on other sites that he signed his extension with UAEmij06-08-2026
- Why are we recycling old podcast takes from many months ago and Pogacar already said UAE is aboard with him on the OL plans. This is just lazy journalism if even that.miguel06-08-2026
- he wants clarity on the team's plans. what clarity does the team have on his plans to remain a hard-worker once he gets a longer contract?mij06-08-2026
- not only do they deserve it, the racing is fantastic. yesterday's stage was amazing.mij06-08-2026
- I agree, Remco did have bigger power output in the lower and punchier mountains, but when they would have got into the high mountains, then the picture would be turned around. I still think Jonas is a better high mountain climber and would have beaten Remco on Alp d'Huez. Maybe we will never know, I have the feeling Jonas will retire. He has nothing more to prove: He won all three GT, TdF twice... he won all the major one week stage races... he can't seem to win one day races... he crashed out on a few occasions and hurt himself pretty badly... him staying and beating other cyclists that are not Pogačar is BS... he knows he will never again beat Pogi, regardless what he says... SO??? Retirement !!!PogiSloFans06-08-2026
- I can't imagine saying "no" to a countryman making this request to represent your company to help the team win.mij06-08-2026
- Learning isn't just about acquiring new skills—it’s a direct investment in your future. Every time you dedicate time to grow, you reaffirm your commitment to becoming a better version of yourself and prepare for bigger opportunities ahead.raulmejia06-08-2026
- I get the impression that VIngegaard doesnt actually like to race bike-races so I dont think he will.miguel06-08-2026
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- > All in all, these estimates look so confusing. Maybe they aren’t that confusing. Once you account for bike weight and aerodynamics, it’s still possible that Pantani had to put in more effort than Pogačar, even though he climbed slower.averagecyclist06-08-2026
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