ANALYSIS - The Grand Tour Isaac del Toro should actually lead in 2027 after historic Tour de France performance
Cycling
The 2026 Tour de France has definitively confirmed that Isaac del Toro is no longer just one of cycling’s great prospects. At 22, the Mexican has stepped up to the elite with a historic debut at the Grande Boucle, finishing 3rd overall, only behind Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel.
His role was anything but simple. UAE Team Emirates XRG came to the Tour with a clear goal: secure Pogacar’s fifth Tour de France title. Del Toro embraced his status as the Slovenian’s domestique from day one and executed the job flawlessly. Yet the yellow jersey’s overwhelming superiority over three weeks allowed Pogacar himself to help his teammate defend third overall against Paul Seixas.
The outcome was ideal for the Emirati squad. Pogacar reclaimed the Tour, and Del Toro confirmed he is now arguably the second most important rider in the structure for three-week races, ahead of established names like Joao Almeida or Adam Yates.
That, however, raises an inevitable question: which Grand Tour should Isaac del Toro lead in 2027?
The Tour de France will remain Pogacar’s domain
No matter how ready the Mexican looks to fight for a general classification, the reality within UAE seems clear.
As long as Tadej Pogacar reaches the Tour de France at full tilt, his leadership will not be challenged. The Slovenian is still chasing the status of greatest rider in history and has major targets ahead. After claiming his fifth Tour in 2026, all signs point to him continuing to build much of his season around the Grande Boucle.
For Del Toro, that means accepting a reality that need not be negative. Sharing a team with the world’s best cyclist limits his chances of leading at the Tour, but it also opens doors that are far more interesting for building his own legacy. That’s where the other two Grand Tours come in.
Tadej Pogacar and Isaac del Toro, at the 2026 Tour de France.
The Vuelta a España also carries too many question marks
On paper, the Vuelta a España always looks attractive. It traditionally gathers a slightly less deep field than the Tour and often offers more chances to young riders chasing a first overall triumph.
However, there is a significant issue. The Vuelta remains one of the few major titles still missing from Pogacar’s extraordinary palmarès. If the Slovenian skips it in 2026, the likelihood of him turning the 2027 edition into a prime objective would rise considerably.
And if Pogacar rides the Vuelta, Del Toro would find himself in exactly the same role as at the Tour: working for his leader.
So, while it would be a compelling sporting option, it doesn’t seem the most logical for the Mexican’s development.
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The Giro d’Italia ticks every box
If there is one race seemingly made for Isaac del Toro, it is the Giro d’Italia. Not only because of its typical route profile, packed with long mountain stages and back-to-back climbs that favour resilient climbers like him. It’s also about the powerful emotional bond between the Mexican and the Corsa Rosa.
In 2025, no one expected him to fight for the overall win. He arrived as domestique for Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates, but everything changed on that unforgettable sterrato stage. Only Wout van Aert beat him that day. Del Toro pulled on pink and launched a performance that stunned the cycling world.
He defended the lead for most of the race with a maturity rare in such a young rider. Only the brutal Colle delle Finestre stage, where Simon Yates delivered a historic comeback, denied him his first Grand Tour.
That defeat left a clear feeling: the Giro did not finish the story between Del Toro and the Italian race. It merely left the next chapter unwritten.
After what we saw throughout 2026, it is hard to argue that Isaac del Toro remains just a deluxe domestique. The Mexican delivered an outstanding campaign even before the Tour.
He won the UAE Tour, Tirreno–Adriatico, and the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, and played a decisive role in major victories like Milano–Sanremo, where his work on the Cipressa was crucial for Pogacar to finally conquer the Italian Monument.
Then came the Tour de France podium. With that résumé, 2027 should mark a change of status within the team. It’s not about taking the spotlight from Pogacar, but about using UAE’s probably best Grand Tours block to distribute objectives.
The Tour would still belong to the Slovenian. But the Giro should become Isaac del Toro’s main target.
2025 Giro d’Italia podium: Yates, Carapaz, Del Toro
Isaac del Toro is a leader ready to win
Beyond the symbolism, it also looks the most logical sporting choice. Del Toro has already shown he can handle the pressure of wearing the maglia rosa for almost three weeks, respond in high mountains and maintain the consistency needed to fight for a general classification.
Moreover, the Giro often offers routes that particularly suit punchy climbers who recover well between stages, two traits that fit the Mexican’s profile perfectly.
At 22, he still has huge room to grow. But precisely for that reason, it makes little sense to delay his first big opportunity as an undisputed leader.
The 2026 Tour de France confirmed that Isaac del Toro now belongs to the select group of riders tipped to dominate the Grand Tours over the next decade. Now it’s time to take the next step.
While Pogacar continues to rule the Tour, the Mexican needs to build his own story on a different stage. And nowhere looks more fitting than the Giro d’Italia.
Returning to the race where he came close to touching the sky in 2025, this time as outright leader of UAE Team Emirates XRG, would be the natural progression of a rider who has already stopped being a prospect to become a genuine star of the peloton.
Isaac del Toro’s results that justify leadership in 2027
| Result | Season |
| 2nd Giro d’Italia | 2025 |
| UAE Tour champion (2 stages) | 2026 |
| Tirreno–Adriatico champion (1 stage) | 2026 |
| Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes champion (2 stages) | 2026 |
| 3rd Strade Bianche | 2026 |
| Key domestique in Pogacar’s Milano–Sanremo victory | 2026 |
| 3rd Tour de France | 2026 |
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
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