The 3 key goals for Isaac del Toro in 2026 - From leading roles to helping Tadej Pogacar, how will UAE use the Mexican?
Cycling
Isaac del Toro is already a star. His incredible 2025 season full of victories means that even more will inevitably be expected of him in the run-up to 2026. In his second year with UAE Team Emirates - XRG he won a stage and came close to winning the overall at the Giro d'Italia, won stages and overall in several races (Austria, Burgos) and won countless classics (most notably the legendary Giro dell'Emilia).
Looking ahead to the next campaign (which has already started with an inevitable double at the national championships in Mexico) we can expect nothing but more from a rider who, it must be said, has just started his career with only two full years in the WorldTour. So, heading into 2026, we believe Del Toro could have 3 big goals to try to accomplish (no pressure due to his age) that he couldn't obtain in 2025:
1. Helping Pogacar at Milano-Sanremo
The race that Tadej Pogacar has struggled the most in recent years is Milano-Sanremo. The first monument of each year will once again see UAE put all its machinery in place to try to help the Slovenian drop Mathieu van der Poel on the Poggio.
To do this they must set a hellish pace on Cipressa and at the start of the last climb before the descent to the finish. This season Isaac del Toro was the key man before Pogacar's planned attack, but he was nowhere to be seen on the Cipressa. Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narváez did an astounding work, but it didn't prove to be enough to put van der Poel through enough pain. So, for sure next year he wants to be key in the bunch again and this time give more of himself to make his leader's attack even more effective.
Isaac del Toro was already at this year's Milano-Sanremo, but it were Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narváez who made the difference. @Imago
2. Win a WorldTour classic
Del Toro won last year's Milano-Torino, Terres de l'Ebre, Circuito de Getxo, GP Industria, Giro della Toscana, Coppa Sabatini, Trofeo Matteoti, Giro dell'Emilia and Gran Piemonte. An incredible display of power and consistency. However, none of them is a WorldTour race. He was fifth at the Clasica San Sebastian (here UAE failed tactically, as he was the leader) and fifth also in Il Lombardia (Pogacar's domestique).
He skipped the Ardennes, where perhaps in 2026 he could have a chance to shine in races like Amstel Gold Race or Flèche Wallonne that could be good for him to debut his World Tour palmares in one-day races. Trying again in San Sebastián would also be an option.
3. Win a grand tour?
Isaac del Toro arrived at the last Giro d'Italia as a domestique for Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates, and only a tactical error by UAE and himself prevented him from winning the maglia rosa in Rome. Hence, it is viable to think that in 2026 he can have his revenge. However it is easier said than done, and he should have different and superior competition this time around.
Given that it looks like Jonas Vingegaard is going to race the Giro d'Italia - and Remco Evenepoel seems to be leaning towards that possibility as well, perhaps the Vuelta a España could be a great option for him, as he would probably have potentially less tougher rivals. Obviously, we imagine UAE will also have to consider a João Almeida who has been earning his place as the leader in these types of races for years.
Del Toro should lead UAE at the Giro d'Italia next year, but will he be able to win it this time? @Imago
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Seixas appears to be that good but if he isn't (an absolute rival to Pogacar) he would have plenty of company in rising stars that did not go on to fully meet the expectations of many. That Pogacar wasn't the greatest (as great) sooner can't be transposed onto another's development. It may be not that simple.flyer14-11-2026
- I agree that, for Evenepoel, the Euro championship is overshadowed by the slightly off Lombardia and Worlds. However, I disagree that "Ciccone also made a serious mistake at the European Championships" because I don't think he had a win in the bag although he could have won with a perfect bike throw. Guesswork about the finish is not evidence by me for some serious mistake. Sometimes you just barely lose - although Ciccone's sourpuss about it persona was serious.flyer14-11-2026
- I bet you photobombed the video since you are his shadow!frieders314-11-2026
- Skipping the 2027 TDF would be fine in my opinion, and if so, it further reveals that him racing it in 2026 was a good decision. Seixas speaks confident, almost cocky, these days (not meant to be a criticism) and I find it a tad humorous that people (rather commentators) continually chide and advise on how Decathlon should direct and manage Seixas when Paul seems to be calling all his shots since well before this year's TDF.flyer14-11-2026
- Well I just watched this and I thought it was great! If you’re a Pogi fan, like me, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you’re not necessarily a Pogi fan I still recommend it. There’s plenty of new stuff I didn’t know about and I’m a Pogi-maniac! Nice interviews with Pogi & Matteo Trentin too.Lozza14-11-2026
- Well I just watched this and I thought it was great! If you’re a Pogi fan, like me, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you’re not necessarily a Pogi fan I still recommend it. There’s plenty of new stuff I didn’t know about and I’m a Pogi-maniac! Nice interviews with Pogi & Matteo Trentin too. So Zonnewotsit can stick it!Lozza14-11-2026
- Who’s gifting grand tours at UAE? Defo not Pogi! Stage wins maybe.Lozza13-11-2026
- Sepp Kuss Vuelta 2023.Lozza13-11-2026
- they have no expertise with classics, they have no leaders in classics. the classics is dominated by the few Fuori Classe riders where other riders are left with scraps. the Hiring , the salaries dont make sense at all. Same problem as Man Utd. over paid players, egos, very little performanceabstractengineer13-11-2026
- Contract year means you gotta win, at least collect UCI points, helping be damnedabstractengineer13-11-2026
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