{"id":593993,"date":"2026-04-10T04:13:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T04:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/593993\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T04:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T04:13:15","slug":"del-toro-and-pidcock-face-uncertain-futures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/593993\/","title":{"rendered":"Del Toro and Pidcock Face Uncertain Futures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two of the expected favorites for Amstel, Fl\u00e8che, and Li\u00e8ge sidelined by crashes and without clear recovery timelines ahead of classics triple.<\/p>\n

Listen to this articleListen\"\"<\/p>\n

(Photo: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Updated April 9, 2026 07:40AM<\/p>\n

Tom Pidcock<\/a> and Isaac del Toro<\/a> are stuck on the sidelines just 10 days before they\u2019re scheduled to take favorites status in the Ardennes classics.<\/p>\n

Mexican sensation Del Toro crashed and tore a muscle Wednesday at Itzulia Basque Country, and it\u2019s unknown when he will next race.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s been no news on Pidcock for a week after he smashed his knee in a horror fall late last month.<\/a><\/p>\n

The presense or absense of these two young stars could totally reshape the racing later this month at Amstel Gold Race, La Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, and Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge.<\/p>\n

These two Gen-Zs are among the extreme few riders who could challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar and Paul Seixas in this trilogy of grueling races that are so well suited to their skillset.<\/p>\n

Del Toro tears muscle in Basque spill
\n\"\"Isaac del Toro crashed out of Itzulia after starting the race as a favorite. (Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Del Toro suffered a heavy fall early in stage 3 of Itzulia Basque Country on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

He was conscious and attempted to ride on after he and several others fell in an off-camera spill, but soon called it quits.<\/p>\n

After an off-key start to the race, Del Toro had little hope of challenging the rampant Seixas<\/a> and so had little to push on for.<\/p>\n

UAE Emirates-XRG later updated that the 22-year-old suffered a \u201ca right thigh muscle tear, and several related abrasions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team had no further update for Velo when contacted Thursday afternoon. The severity of the tear and a timeline for recovery are unclear.<\/p>\n

The moment Isaac Del Toro withdrew from Stage 3 of Itzulia Basque Country \u2014 we wish you a swift recovery, Isaac \ud83d\ude4f pic.twitter.com\/5fLgV2yJ2q<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It could prove a costly setback for Del Toro, who\u2019s scheduled to ride the full \u201cArdennes Triple\u201d of Amstel, Fl\u00e8che, and Li\u00e8ge.<\/p>\n

The former arrives on April 19, just 11 days after his crash.<\/p>\n

Del Toro ran riot through the early-season<\/a> with huge GC wins at UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico.<\/p>\n

He was expected to be playing top dog for his debuts at Amstel and Fl\u00e8che before reverting to bottle boy for Poga\u010dar in the Slovenian\u2019s title defense at Li\u00e8ge.<\/p>\n

No news on Pidcock after ravine crash
\n\"PidcockPidcock took Poga\u010dar to the line in a dramatic finale of Milan-San Remo. (Photo: Getty Images).<\/p>\n

Pidcock was touted to be one of the very few who could challenge Team UAE\u2019s deadly duo in Li\u00e8ge.<\/p>\n

The Brit won Amstel Gold Race in 2024 and pushed Poga\u010dar to the limit last month at Milan-San Remo.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Team Pinarello-Q36.5 told Domestique last week they\u2019re being extra conservative with their lead star in his long build toward the Tour de France.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no firm idea or understanding when he will be back on a bike or racing at the moment,\u201d team boss Doug Ryder told Domestique<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d rather be a bit more cautious. The knee has many joints and facets to it, so you\u2019ve got to be quite cautious around that. We\u2019re being cautious to make sure that he has a good recovery, and we don\u2019t push it too early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Velo reached out to Pinarello-Q36.5 for an update on Thursday but is yet to hear back.<\/p>\n