Mexican sensation Del Toro lights the turbos early, shocks the sprinters, and validates the hype with season-opening win.
Updated February 16, 2026 06:49AM
Isaac del Toro handed UAE Emirates-XRG victory on day 1 of its home race in sensational fashion Monday.
The Meckxian Mexican won stage 1 of the UAE Tour with a wild long acceleration on a dragging uphill finale that couldn’t be matched by a who’s who of pure speedsters and fast climbers.
Cees Bol (Decathlon CMA CGM) closed hard behind Del Toro after the 22-year-old launched his canny early kick to finish second. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) was next best in the pick ‘n’ mix finishing pack in the Liwa Palace.
Del Toro’s turn of pace Monday would have done his teammate and mentor Tadej Pogačar proud. In fact, the Slovenian attempted the very same move on the Liwa finale last year but fell short.
Arriving on the young phenom’s season debut, Del Toro’s blazing victory only reinforces the notion that he might be the hottest prospect in cycling right now.
Speaking at the finish, Del Toro suggested his move Monday wasn’t purely opportunistic.
“I was thinking I might have a chance, but it was a dream, not realistic,” Del Toro said. “I was asking teammates if they saw this properly, but it’s just crazy.”
The 3-4 percent grade of the final 500m was just enough to hand “Torito” his chance.
“Nothing made me think this was for me rather than sprinters,” he said. “I just saw the chance and didn’t want to regret. I just saw the chance, and went full.”
Del Toro launched early and held on for the win. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
It was a tough start to the UAE Tour for alpha sprinter Jonathan Milan. Lidl-Trek’s burly Italian crashed in the finale but was able to pedal to the finish. He appeared banged up and in some pain.
Lidl-Trek later confirmed that Milan escaped any fractures but will undergo further monitoring for wounds across his elbow, hip, and knee.
Del Toro takes the red leader’s jersey into a time trial on Tuesday that tilts firmly in the favor of pre-race favorite Remco Evenepoel.
Red Bull’s rampant new leader finished safe in the bunch-kick and is 10 seconds back after his UAE rival hoovered up the bonuses at the finish line.