"We’ll miss having him there" - Isaac del Toro hoped Tadej Pogacar company at World Championships
Cycling
Isaac del Toro is one of the main favourites to win the 2026 World Championships. Both in the Grand Tours and in this very race, he has shown the legs to win big, but that hasn't yet landed. In a race that is expected to be chaotic, the Mexican rider could succeed Tadej Pogacar in bringing the rainbow jersey to UAE Team Emirates - XRG.
Del Toro, 22, has had a very ambitious calendar and a very successful year. Overall wins at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour Auvergne - Rhône Alpes have provided him with extensive experience and prestige at the very highest level; whilst at the Tour de France he finished on the podium, won a stage and the youth classification.
The Tour's success was widely influenced by Tadej Pogacar, who didn't request domestique duties from the youngster, and even helped him achieve his goals. “It’s always great when the best rider in the world takes part in a race. We’ll miss having him there," Del Toro said ahead of the race, regarding his teammate.
In Kigali, Del Toro bridged across to Pogacar and Juan Ayuso 12 months ago. On the Mur de Kigali itself, his acceleration saw Ayuso get dropped, whilst the duo continued carving a gap over their chasers. Del Toro on that day didn't have the necessary endurance to finish on the podium, but was nevertheless seventh on the day. Finding himself with the Slovenian was a desired scenario.

Isaac del Toro and Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France
Mexico racing against the tide
That is mostly because when the race, with 273 kilometers in distance, enters its decisive phase, Mexico won't have the means to support him as he does at UAE Team Emirates - XRG. Rival teams will have plenty cards to take on the explosive race.
“If I’m feeling good, I’ll try to steer the race in a direction that works to my advantage. Am I the favorite? It’s always nice to be at the top of the list, but it’s not something that keeps me up at night".
“We don’t have the strongest squad so we’ll have to race smartly. Do we have a plan? Yes, we do, and I could even tell you what it is, though we might change it..."
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Del Toro feeling the warmth of the fans
But Del Toro is aiming high, and after winning the GP de Montréal, there are good reasons to consider him as a big favourite - and a potential winner for this Sunday's road race.
"In any case, I know a huge number of people are making the trip from Mexico to support us. They make me feel privileged. I don’t think of myself as anyone special, but all these people make me feel that way," he concluded.

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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- Yeh, but he didn't and RE beat Pog & Del T 👍
leedorney06-11-2026 - Just my opinion
leedorney06-11-2026 - Great win.However will the world champions jersey be simply a domestic for the season which will some what tarnish the jersey. I hope he is given free rein to try and win some races.paultryan200206-11-2026
- Gretsky wow how old are you lol. Classy sportman though.🤣🤣🤣🤣 Hope it is a good as the one they made on Mark Cavendish.paultryan200206-11-2026
- Literally the perfect RedBull athlete.anonymouscyclist06-11-2026
- And well understood in the CX community.anonymouscyclist06-11-2026
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- ridiculous. a normal racing incident. how lame do you have to be to complain about that?Ketterechts06-11-2026
- Rubbing is racing.
santiagobenites06-11-2026
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