The rise of Isaac del Toro — and the fall of Juan Ayuso: how UAE’s young guns took different paths in 2025

With the 2025 season in the books, it’s hard to ignore how two of cycling’s brightest young stars — Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso — have travelled down completely different roads this year. Both started with the same jersey, both were tipped to become the future of UAE Team Emirates - XRG. By season’s end, one was unstoppable, and the other was gone.

Ayuso entered the year as one of UAE’s designated leaders for major races, eager to move past the fallout from the previous Tour de France. Twelve months earlier, he’d been brought along as a domestique for Tadej Pogacar, struggled to accept team orders, and ultimately abandoned through illness. 2025 was meant to be his reset.

Del Toro, meanwhile, was introduced as the next big thing in global cycling — the 21-year-old Mexican hailed as one to nurture carefully, with incremental responsibility. He was slated to support Ayuso at the Giro d’Italia. That plan didn’t last long.

Both riders exploded out of the blocks in March. Ayuso took wins at the Faun Drôme Classic and Trofeo Laigueglia, while Del Toro struck first with a statement victory at Milano–Torino.

Ayuso followed up with a Tirreno–Adriatico stage win and the overall title, then claimed another stage and second overall behind Primož Roglič at the Volta a Catalunya. By May, the Giro start line was loaded: Roglič and Ayuso were the pre-race favourites for pink.

Both stumbled, but Ayuso salvaged a stage. Del Toro, on the other hand, soared — wearing the maglia rosa deep into the race, adding a stage win and leading until the penultimate day. Only Simon Yates’ late surge denied him a stunning overall victory.

After Italy, their seasons flipped completely. Ayuso’s form evaporated. Del Toro couldn’t stop winning.

The Mexican sensation went on a tear, taking the Tour of Austria with three stage victories, plus triumphs at the Clàssica Terres de l’Ebre, Circuito de Getxo, Vuelta a Burgos, GP Industria & Artigianato, Giro della Toscana, Coppa Sabatini, Trofeo Matteotti, Giro dell’Emilia, Gran Piemonte and Giro del Veneto.

He even pulled off a national-championship double at home in Mexico, winning both the time trial and road race.

Ayuso resurfaced at the Vuelta a España as a late replacement for Pogačar, claiming two stage wins but staying clear of the general classification battle. Soon after, his move to Lidl–Trek was confirmed, ending his time with UAE.

By year’s end, Del Toro had racked up 16 wins, twice Ayuso’s eight. But the Spanish rider’s victories carried more prestige: six came at WorldTour level, three in Grand Tours, while Del Toro’s only top-tier success was his Giro stage.

Still, for a 21-year-old in his first full season among the elite, Del Toro’s consistency was astonishing. If Ayuso’s transfer signals a reboot, Del Toro’s rise could reshape UAE’s hierarchy — and perhaps cycling’s next era.