Del Toro weathers tactical storms and crashes while extending his overall lead as the race heads into its decisive final week
ASIAGO, Italy (May 25, 2025) — In the pantheon of cycling’s most celebrated jerseys, few carry the weight of history and expectation like the maglia rosa of the Giro d’Italia. For six consecutive days now, that pink symbol of leadership has draped the shoulders of Isaac Del Toro, a 21-year-old Mexican whose ascension from domestique to race leader has become one of the most compelling narratives in this year’s corsa rosa.
As the 108th Giro d’Italia prepares to enter its brutal final week, Del Toro’s grip on the overall lead has only strengthened, even as the tactical chess match around him has grown increasingly complex. Through time trials in Tuscany, mountain stages in Emilia-Romagna, crash-marred sprints across the Veneto plains, and now into the foothills of the Dolomites, the young UAE Team Emirates XRG rider has displayed a maturity that belies his years.
“I wear the Maglia Rosa but I feel nervous in the race because everyone is my idol, I’m a fan of them and now I have to follow their attacks,” Del Toro confessed after Stage 15’s finish in Asiago. “To be able to do it is crazy.”
Stage 10: The Time Trial Revelation
The race’s tactical complexity first emerged on Stage 10, a 28.6-kilometer individual time trial from the medieval walls of Lucca to Pisa’s iconic leaning tower. While Dutch champion Daan Hoole of Lidl-Trek claimed his maiden Grand Tour victory in dramatic fashion, the real drama unfolded behind him as changing weather conditions split the field and reshuffled the general classification.
Hoole, typically a domestique for sprint star Mads Pedersen, delivered a masterful performance over the rolling Tuscan terrain. Starting early in ideal conditions, the 27-year-old Dutchman set a blistering pace of 52.8 kilometers per hour, ultimately holding off Britain’s Joshua Tarling by seven seconds despite the Ineos Grenadiers rider being widely considered the stage favorite.
“Had you asked me yesterday who’d win the TT, I’d have said Josh Tarling because he’s the best time triallist at the moment,” Hoole admitted in the post-stage press conference. “I made the difference on the hill. I started fast but kept something for this small drag up, then I pushed and the numbers were good.”
The weather played a crucial role as rain began falling just as the general classification contenders took to the course. Under these treacherous conditions, three-time Grand Tour winner Primož Roglič of Bora-hansgrohe demonstrated his championship pedigree, clawing back 19 seconds on Juan Ayuso, Del Toro’s UAE teammate. The Slovenian’s tactical nous in adverse conditions served as an early warning of the battles to come.
Stage 10 Results:
- Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) – 32’30”
- Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) at 7″
- Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) at 10″
General Classification after Stage 10:
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 25″
- Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) at 1’01”
Jersey Holders after Stage 10:
- Maglia Rosa (Overall Leader): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino (Points): Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra (Mountains): Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca (Young Rider): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Del Toro’s composure under pressure was already evident. “It’s been a good day because I didn’t crash,” he said with characteristic understatement. “I didn’t take risk in the corners.”
Stage 11: Carapaz’s Reminder of Class
Stage 11’s 186-kilometer journey from Viareggio to Castelnovo ne’ Monti provided the race’s first true mountain test, and with it came a reminder that Richard Carapaz remains a force to be reckoned with. The 2019 Giro winner and 2021 Olympic champion chose his moment perfectly, attacking with nine kilometers remaining and soloing to victory ahead of Del Toro and Italy’s Giulio Ciccone.
For Carapaz, riding for EF Education-EasyPost, the victory represented both vindication and declaration. After disappointing in the time trial the previous day—”I know time trialing isn’t my forte,” he admitted—the Ecuadorian demonstrated that his climbing legs remained sharp as he approaches his 32nd birthday.
“I took advantage of the work of my team-mates Georg Steinhauser and Mikkel Honoré,” Carapaz explained. “We knew it could be a good stage for us. The Giro was my goal since the beginning of the year. We’ve been working on it since October.”
More significantly, the stage revealed Del Toro’s tactical awareness and team-first mentality. When Carapaz’s acceleration created gaps in the chasing group, the young Mexican actually slowed his pursuit to ensure his teammates could regroup.
“It would have been nicer to be all together with my team-mates, that’s why I stopped and we managed to be everybody together again,” Del Toro explained, displaying the kind of tactical maturity that often takes years to develop.
Stage 11 Results:
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) – 4h35’20”
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 10″
- Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) at 10″
General Classification after Stage 11:
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 31″
- Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) at 1’07”
Jersey Holders after Stage 11:
- Maglia Rosa (Overall Leader): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino (Points): Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra (Mountains): Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca (Young Rider): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Stage 12: Dutch Dominance in the Sprints
The following days showcased the remarkable depth of Dutch cycling talent, with three different riders from the Netherlands claiming consecutive stage victories—a first in Giro d’Italia history. Stage 12 belonged to Olav Kooij of Team Visma-Lease a Bike, who finally delivered on his sprint credentials after two disappointing results earlier in the race.
Kooij’s victory in Viadana was orchestrated by an extraordinary lead-out from Wout van Aert, whose versatility continues to astound the cycling world. “Only Wout can do such a long lead out like today’s,” Kooij marveled. “I got an extraordinary support.”
Stage 12 Results:
- Olav Kooij (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – 3h55’40”
- Casper Van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL) at 0″
- Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) at 0″
General Classification after Stage 12:
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 33″
- Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) at 1’09”
Jersey Holders after Stage 12:
- Maglia Rosa (Overall Leader): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino (Points): Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra (Mountains): Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca (Young Rider): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
For Del Toro, even the supposedly easy sprint stages provided opportunities to extend his overall advantage. His savvy positioning at intermediate sprints netted additional bonus seconds, demonstrating a completeness that separates potential winners from mere climbers.
Stage 13: Pedersen’s Poker Hand
Mads Pedersen’s dominance of Stage 13 represented perhaps the most tactically sophisticated victory of the race to date. The Danish powerhouse from Lidl-Trek claimed his fourth stage win with a perfectly timed sprint up the steep finish in Vicenza, outdueling Van Aert in a battle between cycling’s premier all-rounders.
The stage finish at Monte Berico provided an ideal arena for Pedersen’s unique blend of power and tactical acumen. After his teammate Mathias Vacek animated the early part of the stage, Pedersen could conserve energy for the crucial final kilometer.
“In a finale like today’s, you have to see the openings,” Pedersen explained. “I was on the right side of Wout [van Aert], I had to open the sprint when I saw the 200m mark, hoping it was enough to keep the lead till line.”
Del Toro’s third-place finish, crucially ahead of the main group of GC contenders, netted him additional time bonuses and extended his overall lead to 38 seconds over Ayuso.
Stage 13 Results:
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) – 3h50’24”
- Wout Van Aert (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) at 0″
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 2″
General Classification after Stage 13:
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 38″
- Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) at 1’18”
Jersey Holders after Stage 13:
- Maglia Rosa (Overall Leader): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino (Points): Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra (Mountains): Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca (Young Rider): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
The statistic that Pedersen had led the points classification from Stage 1 through Stage 13—a feat not achieved since Alessandro Petacchi in 2003—underscored the Dane’s remarkable consistency in this Giro.
Stage 14: Border Drama and GC Reshuffling
Stage 14’s symbolic finish in Nova Gorica/Gorizia, celebrating the first cross-border European Capital of Culture, delivered drama that extended far beyond its ceremonial significance. Kasper Asgreen’s solo victory from the breakaway provided a Danish follow-up to his compatriot Pedersen’s success, but the real story unfolded behind him as crashes split the peloton and reshuffled the general classification.
The technical circuit in Slovenia, made treacherous by rain, caught out several key contenders. Most significantly, Antonio Tiberi and Giulio Ciccone—previously sitting third and fourth overall respectively—lost significant time, while Simon Yates moved up to second place overall.
Del Toro himself was caught in the chaos. “Some guys crashed in the front, I wasn’t that much in the front but I crashed too because someone hit me from behind,” he recounted. “I managed to stand up and go quickly to the front.”
His quick reflexes and presence of mind in joining the front group likely saved his race, as gaps of over a minute opened behind him. The incident demonstrated not just his bike handling skills but his mental resilience under pressure.
Stage 14 Results:
- Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost) – 4h04’40”
- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 16″
- Olav Kooij (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) at 16″
General Classification after Stage 14:
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) at 1’20”
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 1’26”
Jersey Holders after Stage 14:
- Maglia Rosa (Overall Leader): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino (Points): Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra (Mountains): Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca (Young Rider): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Stage 15: Verona’s Emotional Triumph
Stage 15’s marathon 219-kilometer journey to Asiago provided the longest stage of this year’s Giro and delivered one of its most emotionally charged victories. Carlos Verona, the 32-year-old Spanish domestique for Lidl-Trek, claimed his first Grand Tour stage win in an escape that began as revenge for his fallen teammate Giulio Ciccone, who had been forced to abandon the race due to injuries sustained in the previous day’s crash.
“I didn’t want to do it for me but I wanted to do it for the team, knowing how much Giulio had worked for this race,” Verona said through tears. “Today’s victory makes cycling a wonderful sport because of the different emotions it delivers in such a short period of time.”
Verona’s solo attack 45 kilometers from the finish came at a moment when the general classification riders were beginning to eye each other nervously. His tactical awareness allowed him to bridge between the early breakaway and the approaching favorites, ultimately holding off the chase by 22 seconds.
Behind him, the day’s most significant development was Primož Roglič’s continued slide down the general classification. The 2023 Giro winner lost another 1’30” to Del Toro, dropping from fifth to tenth overall with a deficit of 3’53”. For a rider who arrived as one of the pre-race favorites, this represented a potentially race-ending blow.
Stage 15 Results:
- Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) – 5h15’41”
- Florian Stork (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) at 22″
- Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) at 23″
General Classification after Stage 15:
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) at 1’20”
- Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 1’26”
Jersey Holders after Stage 15:
- Maglia Rosa (Overall Leader): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino (Points): Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra (Mountains): Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca (Young Rider): Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Del Toro’s performance on the demanding climbs of Monte Grappa showcased his continued development as a complete rider. When Ineos Grenadiers applied pressure through Egan Bernal’s acceleration, the young Mexican responded immediately.
“I like how they race and when they passed us with a fast train, I caught their wheels and waited for Egan Bernal’s attack,” Del Toro explained. “He got a gap, I needed to go quickly, I’m glad I was able to follow him.”
The Mathematics of Leadership
As the Giro prepares to enter its decisive final week, the numbers tell the story of Del Toro’s growing authority. His six days in the maglia rosa have already placed him in rarified company—only Taylor Phinney, another 21-year-old American, has worn the race leader’s jersey for as long at such a young age in this century.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG squad’s tactical sophistication has been evident throughout. With both Del Toro and Juan Ayuso sitting first and third overall respectively, they possess multiple cards to play in the mountains ahead. The presence of Adam Yates, though currently further back, adds another dimension to their tactical arsenal.
“We still need to see who is the leader of the team,” Del Toro acknowledged with refreshing honesty. “Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates are so strong, we’ll see how we play in last week, we need to play the three of us.”
This team-first mentality, combined with his individual strength, has been key to Del Toro’s success. Unlike many young riders who might be tempted to overextend themselves early in a Grand Tour, he has shown remarkable discipline in picking his battles and conserving energy for the crucial moments.
Jersey Classifications Paint Full Picture
The jersey competitions tell their own stories of this Giro’s evolution. Pedersen’s stranglehold on the maglia ciclamino (points classification) reflects not just his sprint dominance but his versatility over varied terrain. His 14 days in the jersey equals the achievements of Peter Sagan and puts him on course for one of the most dominant points classification victories in recent memory.
Lorenzo Fortunato’s retention of the maglia azzurra (King of the Mountains) through 15 stages speaks to the consistency required in the climbing competition, while Del Toro’s dual role as both overall leader and best young rider (maglia bianca) underscores his exceptional talent.
The Week Ahead
As the Giro approaches its traditional climax in the high mountains, Del Toro faces his greatest test. The third week of a Grand Tour is where young legs often falter, where the accumulated fatigue of two weeks’ racing finally takes its toll. His honest self-assessment suggests he understands this challenge.
“Personally, I don’t know how good I’ll be in the third week,” he admitted. “I cannot yet realise that I’m one of the top guys.”
Yet his performances to date suggest otherwise. His ability to respond to attacks from proven Grand Tour winners like Carapaz and Bernal, his tactical awareness in crucial moments, and his team’s clear commitment to his leadership all point to a rider capable of going the distance.
The mathematics of his advantage—1’20” over Simon Yates and 1’26” over teammate Ayuso—provide a cushion, but not an overwhelming one. In the high mountains that await, such gaps can evaporate in a single explosive attack or disappear gradually through a sustained tempo that exposes any weakness.
What Del Toro possesses, however, is something that cannot be taught: the ability to remain calm under pressure and the wisdom to race tactically rather than emotionally. As he noted after surviving the chaos of Stage 14: “People around me give me the confidence.”
That confidence, combined with his evident talent and the strength of his supporting cast, suggests that Mexico’s first Grand Tour victory may be within reach. In a sport where youth often struggles to master the tactical complexity of three-week racing, Isaac Del Toro has already demonstrated a maturity that extends far beyond his 21 years.
The pink jersey will face its sternest tests in the days ahead, but if the first 15 stages have proven anything, it is that this young Mexican has both the legs and the head to potentially carry it all the way to Rome.
