"Step by step we will be ready" - Isaac Del Toro starts Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes but has one eye on Tour de France with Tadej Pogacar
CyclingSunday, 07 June 2026 at 11:21
Isaac Del Toro fronts a UAE Team Emirates - XRG line-up with high hopes heading into the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Saturday. The Mexican champion, however, has the Tour de France on the back of his mind as he prepares to be Tadej Pogacar's right hand man in July.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season as he rode to a Giro d'Italia podium and has evolved into a leader for the Emirati squad this season, collecting overall wins at the UAE Tour and Tirreno Adriatico.
Pinned to support Pogacar at the Tour, he comes to the WorldTour race - formerly known as the Criterium du Dauphine - at the forefront alongside a returning João Almeida, but faces a tough week against a GC field spearheaded by Paul Seixas.
Tough parcours at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
With a brutal parcours set to become decisive in the overall battle, Del Toro is hopeful that he has what it takes to compete with the 19-year-old sensation to win his third WorldTour stage race of the year.
"It will be hard the last part of the week. Let's see how the legs are after training and hopefully we can be up there," he told Cycling Pro Net.
Preparing for his first Tour de France, he's set to fill the boots of Almeida as the Slovenian's mountain super-domestique. Due to illness and an interrupted season, the Barcelona Grand Depart comes too soon for Almeida - but Del Toro is convinced he'll be ready to support Pogacar.
Del Toro excited for Tour de France
"It's pretty great to be in this position... I'm really excited to be a part of it now that it's in the plan. So, yeah - step by step we will be ready for it."
But Tour de France aside, a demanding race lies ahead. Focus is the key for Del Toro as he vowed that he and his teammates plan on being at the front of affairs from the start.
Read also
"I think so, yes," Del Toro said when asked if he's ready to compete for the win.
He added: "It's being attentive and not making the smallest mistakes and used to be also in the defensive style so we will be there always."
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Glad to see Wout back in action and looking forward to see how Del Toro is riding.mrvco07-06-2026
- Without the back jersey pockets riders are alot more aerodynamic and the front pockets do not outweigh that. What the danger is from front pockets I do not know. Put the bike computers somewhere where the riders can't see them. I don't think that the riders' "television" really has much of an impact because most riders in the peloton are not pushing. As Luca Guercilena said, the way to increase safety is to focus on the OUTCOME before the MEANS. The goal should be to decrease the intensity of positioning battles, and action to do so. Removing race radios is a possibility but won't necessarily make fights for positioning less intense. Just because the rouleurs aren't being told not to be at the front doesn't mean that they won't do it anyway. Also race radios increase safety on unknown technical descents. Wider roads are a possibility too but decrease the spectacle and the skill required. And it's not possible to widen Flanders' roads. Could changing squad sizes for races have an impact? Reducing the number of teams Could decrease the fights. Increasing them could have a similar impact as fewer teams can afford to commit to the front.
Rafionain-Glas07-06-2026 - In Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice, Evenepoel would've had a chance, as there are no mountains and Pogačar wasn't there. He'd have taken time in the ITT/TTT. It's more likely, however, that Giulio Pellizzari would've done better than himRafionain-Glas07-06-2026
- You really think he's going to lose bone density from cutting weight for a couple of months?Veganpotter07-06-2026
- As for Ayuso, stop living in the past, it's 2026 ... as for Remco, the only reason Remco disappeared and isn't racing is because he wouldn't win any preparation race. Now let's be reasonable and let's take a look at what would've happened: Remco would have no chance against Vingegaard in Paris-Nice or Catalunya... or against Pogi in Tour of Romandie... or against Seixas in Itzulia Basque Country... or Isaac del Toro in Tirreno Adriatico. Let's remember that he lost the UAE Tour against Isaac. Remco would also have no chance in the upcoming races like Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Dauphine) against Seixas and Del Toro ... and Tour de Suisse against Pogi. He would have lost everything. Now just imagine losing everything before going to the Tour against the same riders that kept beating him over and over again. So tactically he skipped all the races, regardless the BS Remco and the Red Bull bosses are telling us. And you know something, Remco will never even come close to the podium in the Tour. Those second class ciciban races, he was winning in february and march, mean nothing. Ad acta.Ante-Ustashe07-06-2026
- Has went?paule07-06-2026
- Ouch..He hasnt missed Lidl-Trek.. Their results basically up to the Giro femmes(not sure they would have been as good except with Weibes dsq) has been underwhelming for both mens and womens for a so called superteam. They shouldnt have paid anything for Derek G except his salary! As for Ayuso not sure they should had to pay a transfer but those figures of 10-15 mill are ridiculousDavide07-06-2026
- As usual their convoluted thinking means half of the people there are insane. Front pockets make it easier for people to get and store things, they donot offer a aero advantage that it can cause someone to crash. Make Bike computers smaller means riders will focus a lot more to read the data leading to loss of concentration and more accidents. No bike computers mean that can be eliminated.abstractengineer07-06-2026
- The UCI is the worst thing about cycling. It prevents innovation and generally acts like a control-freak. That's why the US has largely abandoned it and has gone to gravel.acem8207-06-2026
- Now this is UCI stupid - having this race in Abu Dhabi so late !frieders307-06-2026
Loading
Write a comment