The story of A.R.Monex - the team that discovered Isaac Del Toro

Global Peloton speaks to founder Alejandro Rodriguez about how the team was formed, developing Mexican talent and the impact of the Mexican Federation's 2021 suspension

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A young Isaac Del Toro. Image: A.R Monex

At the World Championships in 2021 Alejandro Rodriguez approaches Mauro Gianetti and Matxin, the two top men at UAE Team Emirates, to ask them to take a look at a young Mexican rider called Isaac Del Toro. Both look at his numbers, are impressed, but initially refuse to take the conversation any further because he’s not European.

The reasoning was that teams have to contend with much more bureaucracy when signing riders from nations like Mexico, they have problems with visas and also regular plane travel between over the Atlantic Ocean is said to have a hormonal impact and is detrimental to recovery.

Read more: Isaac Del Toro fights back at the Giro d'Italia

“I understand, actually. We understand it so well that we live in Italy,” Rodriguez replies.

“I said that to him, not in a disrespectful manner. We're very sure, because where he got that talent, I don't know, it was just remarkable. He was in the top 1% of what we've seen of physiological markers. He was just not able to show it in the race. So, it took a lot of time - years. But then, he won the Tour de l’Avenir.”

Rodriguez is speaking the Global Peloton the day after Del Toro has stood on the second step of the podium at the 2025 Giro d’Italia as the first Mexican rider ever to achieve a Grand Tour podium and the first to win a Grand Tour stage in more than 20 years.