#GPNews27/5 - Del Toro holds Giro lead as final week mountains loom
+ Tour of Japan, a new UAE signing and much more...
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This feels like a big week for the sport. A new star may be about to rise in the shape of Isaac Del Toro. What’s more, his origins are not what you would usually expect of the wonderkids of the modern era. He has not come from the Flanders talent factory, but from the port city of Ensenada, just south of Tijuana on the west coast of Mexico.
The question over the next week is, can he hold onto pink and send Mexican cycling into orbit?
Isaac Del Toro in pink ahead of key mountain stages of Giro d’Italia
"I need to realise that I am able to win the Giro,” Del Toro told journalists during his leader’s press conference after comfortably navigating Monte Grappa on stage 15.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider hasn’t put a foot wrong yet during this Giro d’Italia and holds a 1:20 lead over Simon Yates with six stages left.
However, the biggest tests of his grip on pink are yet to come, with four back-breaking mountain stages to come before the race rolls into Roma on Sunday. The big question is, can he hold on?
“I don't want to be arrogant and say 'yes, for sure' [I can win]," Del Toro added. "But if I'm in this position, then of course I want to win like everybody else, but I need to do it in the best way possible and realise that of course there's a chance, and try to take it. It's not 100%, it's just doing it step by step, and not making mistakes, because sometimes little mistakes can put you far away."
The first Mexican to wear the maglia rosa is in the driving seat to carry it all the way to the end, but the biggest question marks centre around his ability to fight with the best over the high mountains in the coming days.
There’s no denying that he has looked brilliant over the terrain which the riders have faced up to now, but Del Toro has never been in this position going head-to-head with the likes of Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates in the high mountains, not to mention his team-mate Juan Ayuso as rumours swirl about the UAE squad’s atmosphere.
The Mexican cycling community is said to be buzzing with excitement. Del Toro has the nation behind him.
“Of course, it's incredible. Imagine having a whole country just for you,” he said.
“It's incredible, really it's an amazing dream and I can realise that I am here fighting every day and having confidence about the things that I want to do in these days. It's so hard but with this team I think everything is possible.”
Tour of Japan
JCL-Team UKYO defended their Tour of Japan crown in dominant style with a 1-2 overall and three stages along the way. Alessandro Fancellu was the winner ahead of Simone Raccani. Benjamin Dyball completed the podium as two Japanese riders also secured stage wins.
Read my full report:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG set to sign Emirati rider for 2026
According to Daniel Benson’s Cycling Substack, UAE Team Emirates-XRG are rumoured to be promoting Emirati rider Abdulla Jasim Al-Ali to their WorldTour squad.
The 22-year-old has raced for the UAE Gen Z team for the last two seasons and is the reigning UAE time-trial champion. On Sunday, Al-Ali was fourth at the UCI 1.2 Trofeo Castelfidardo in Italy. He also raced the Vuelta a Asturias with the WorldTour squad in April.
Invest in Athletes not Federations
What do we do when we realize that the systems of governance don't work equally for everyone? Is there value in investing energy in a system if it doesn’t equally promote values of fairness and justice? The argument often becomes, “But where else can we turn to?”
There are few places as openly corrupt or as abusive as sports. Athletes wage a fight against corruption and abuse within their own federations. Coaches, staff, federation leadership. When athletes look for support, time and time again, they are told, “There are reporting systems in place.”
This is a lie.
Read full story from Shannon Galpin’s Substack
Race Round-up
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA’s Uruguayan Thomas Silva took his first European UCI .1 victory on stage one of the GP Beiras e Serra da Estrela in Portugal and eventually finished 10th overall. Guatemala’s Sergio Chumil was 5th on GC.
The under-23 Vuelta a Colombia is always a good race to watch to find the next generation of South American talent. 2025 champion Juan Felipe Rodriguez hopped straight over to Europe after winning and took the queen stage of the Ronde de l'Isard (U23) ahead of Jarno Widar. He eventually finished 3rd overall.
Japanese rider Tsukaya Uchina is on form. She won the Cossonay TCS Centre race before placing runner up at GP Cham - Hagendorn
Puerto Rico’s Christopher Morales won the Ronda del Maestrazgo-Benicarlo in Spain ahead of Bermudian Nicholas Narraway and South African Pedri Crause.
Other Bits…
Tsgabu Grmay in conversation with David Millar (Factor)
Teniel Campbell’s Trindadian inspired Liv might be one of the best looking bikes out there..
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