Two of the expected favorites for Amstel, Flèche, and Liège sidelined by crashes and without clear recovery timelines ahead of classics triple.
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(Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Updated April 9, 2026 07:40AM
Tom Pidcock and Isaac del Toro are stuck on the sidelines just 10 days before they’re scheduled to take favorites status in the Ardennes classics.
Mexican sensation Del Toro crashed and tore a muscle Wednesday at Itzulia Basque Country, and it’s unknown when he will next race.
And there’s been no news on Pidcock for a week after he smashed his knee in a horror fall late last month.
The presense or absense of these two young stars could totally reshape the racing later this month at Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
These two Gen-Zs are among the extreme few riders who could challenge Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas in this trilogy of grueling races that are so well suited to their skillset.
Del Toro tears muscle in Basque spill
Isaac del Toro crashed out of Itzulia after starting the race as a favorite. (Photo: Getty Images
Del Toro suffered a heavy fall early in stage 3 of Itzulia Basque Country on Wednesday.
He was conscious and attempted to ride on after he and several others fell in an off-camera spill, but soon called it quits.
After an off-key start to the race, Del Toro had little hope of challenging the rampant Seixas and so had little to push on for.
UAE Emirates-XRG later updated that the 22-year-old suffered a “a right thigh muscle tear, and several related abrasions.”
The team had no further update for Velo when contacted Thursday afternoon. The severity of the tear and a timeline for recovery are unclear.
The moment Isaac Del Toro withdrew from Stage 3 of Itzulia Basque Country — we wish you a swift recovery, Isaac 🙏 pic.twitter.com/5fLgV2yJ2q
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 8, 2026
It could prove a costly setback for Del Toro, who’s scheduled to ride the full “Ardennes Triple” of Amstel, Flèche, and Liège.
The former arrives on April 19, just 11 days after his crash.
Del Toro ran riot through the early-season with huge GC wins at UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico.
He was expected to be playing top dog for his debuts at Amstel and Flèche before reverting to bottle boy for Pogačar in the Slovenian’s title defense at Liège.
No news on Pidcock after ravine crash
Pidcock took Pogačar to the line in a dramatic finale of Milan-San Remo. (Photo: Getty Images).
Pidcock was touted to be one of the very few who could challenge Team UAE’s deadly duo in Liège.
The Brit won Amstel Gold Race in 2024 and pushed Pogačar to the limit last month at Milan-San Remo.
His appearance at all three Ardennes races is in doubt after he damaged bone and ligaments in his knee when he fell down a ravine at Volta a Catalunya.
Team Pinarello-Q36.5 told Domestique last week they’re being extra conservative with their lead star in his long build toward the Tour de France.
“There’s no firm idea or understanding when he will be back on a bike or racing at the moment,” team boss Doug Ryder told Domestique.
“We’d rather be a bit more cautious. The knee has many joints and facets to it, so you’ve got to be quite cautious around that. We’re being cautious to make sure that he has a good recovery, and we don’t push it too early.”
Velo reached out to Pinarello-Q36.5 for an update on Thursday but is yet to hear back.