“There are many things I can improve. I wasn’t exactly at the level I wanted” - Isaac del Toro unsatisfied despite Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 GC victory

Isaac del Toro secured overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, yet the Mexican rider insisted afterwards that the performance still fell short of the level he ultimately expects from himself.

The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider completed a week of consistent racing across multiple terrains to seal the general classification, confirming once again his status as one of the most promising stage racers in the peloton.

But speaking after the final stage in San Benedetto del Tronto, Del Toro made clear that the victory has not changed his focus on further improvement.

“There are many things I can improve. I wasn’t exactly at the level I wanted,” Del Toro said in conversation with Cycling Pro Net. “I feel calm because it shows we’re working in the right direction, but I think there are still many things I can improve. I wasn’t exactly at the level I wanted, so now I want to recover and start working again.”

Del Toro’s triumph was built on steady performances throughout the seven-day race, culminating in a decisive victory on the summit finish to Camerino on stage six that effectively secured the overall title.

Reflecting on the week as a whole, the 22-year-old said the consistency he displayed across the different types of terrain was one of the aspects that pleased him most. “I think I was quite decent all week, and I’m very proud to reach this kind of consistency,” he explained.

The result also continues an impressive start to the season for Del Toro, who has already claimed stage race success earlier in the year. “Yes, honestly, I would say so,” he said when asked about the strength of his early-season form.

Although the general classification was effectively secured before the final stage, the closing day in San Benedetto del Tronto still delivered a moment of tension for the race leader.

The finale unfolded on a technical finishing circuit along the Adriatic coast, where a series of crashes disrupted the sprint finale. Del Toro himself was caught in the chaos inside the final three kilometres.

“It was just a bit of chaos in the corner,” he explained. “I hit a pothole and punctured my front wheel, and after that, there was nothing I could do. But luckily it wasn’t anything major, and it happened inside the final three kilometres, so I was quite lucky.”

Earlier in the stage, the peloton had already been stretched by a fierce acceleration from Mathieu van der Poel on the climbs, a moment Del Toro admitted he viewed with some relief, given the timing in the race. “I just thought that as long as this doesn’t happen in Milano-Sanremo, we’re fine,” he joked.

Del Toro also revealed that his victory came despite dealing with illness shortly before the race began. “I would say I didn’t have much luck with that,” he said. “I was in very good physical shape, but I got sick at the worst moment, before Strade Bianche and then coming here.”

Despite that setback, the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider said the team’s clear strategy helped him remain focused on delivering the best possible performance. “But we had a plan with the team, and we were very committed to it. I didn’t want to give up, so I tried to do my best with the legs and the body I had.”

With Tirreno-Adriatico now complete, Del Toro is already looking ahead to the next objectives of the spring.

When asked about the possibility of defending his title at Milano-Torino, the Mexican rider suggested that the race may not feature in his immediate programme. “Honestly, I don’t think so,” he said. “I’ll have to check once I get back, but I would say probably not.”

Despite the overall victory, Del Toro’s message after the race was clear. The result confirms the progress he is making, but the young GC contender believes there is still more to come.