In a stunning display of cycling prowess, 22-year-old Mexican sensation Isaac Del Toro captured the overall title at the UAE Tour on Sunday, delivering a performance that signals the arrival of a major new force in professional cycling. While Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan claimed his third stage victory of the week in the final 147km leg around Abu Dhabi, it was Del Toro’s comprehensive dominance that captured the spotlight.
The young Mexican prodigy secured his victory with a commanding 20-second margin over Italian rider Antonio Tiberi, while Australia’s Luke Plapp finished nearly a minute behind in third position. Del Toro’s triumph was built on multiple strengths—winning two stages during the weeklong event while demonstrating exceptional versatility across different racing disciplines.
Del Toro’s development trajectory draws compelling parallels with cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar, who previously won this same Emirati race. Both riders emerged from the UAE development system and both claimed victory at the Tour de l’Avenir—the prestigious junior version of the Tour de France—before transitioning seamlessly into professional success. Del Toro continued this pattern by achieving victories in his very first professional races, including the 2024 Tour Down Under.
What makes Del Toro particularly remarkable is his multi-dimensional racing capability. He has demonstrated excellence in time trials, mountain climbing—evidenced by his second-place finish in the recent Giro d’Italia—and now even sprinting, having outperformed dedicated sprinters in the tour’s opening stage.
The Mexican’s breakthrough performance stood in stark contrast to the disappointing outing by Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, who entered as Del Toro’s primary rival. The Belgian star, recently transferred to the Red Bull–BORA–Hansgrohe team, struggled throughout the tour’s key mountain stages at Jebel Mobrah and Jebel Hafeet, ultimately finishing tenth overall. Evenepoel cited illness and lack of freshness as contributing factors to his underwhelming performance.
With this statement victory, Del Toro has positioned himself as a rider to watch in the upcoming Grand Tours, particularly his anticipated Tour de France debut in July. His comprehensive skill set and mental fortitude suggest cycling may have discovered its next transcendent talent.