‘No Regrets:’ Young Gun Isaac Del Toro Dares to Follow King Pog
* Road (https://velo.outsideonline.com/road) > * Road Racing (https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing)
Tadej Pogačar’s reign over the peloton has been tested by 21-year-old Isaac Del Toro, who challenged the throne at the UCI Road Worlds on Mount Kigali. This debut marked a pivotal moment in cycling history, as Del Toro, from Baja California, forged his place among the elite ahead of Pogačar’s dominance.
Del Toro’s journey began with a dramatic victory at the UCI Road Worlds, where he outperformed UAE’s Emirates-XRG star to secure seventh place. Despite suffering from stomach problems, his resilience proved instrumental in delivering Mexico’s best result—seventh in the elite men’s road worlds. His teammate praised his determination, stating, ‘We wanted to be in the race.’
For 30 km, Del Toro equaled his UAE teammate, proving that he was destined to become the peloton’s next galáctico. However, his performance on the brutal course—a 6,000m climb and 268 km distance—was the decisive factor in his ascent. The race saw only 30 finishers, reinforcing his claim as the heir apparent to Pogačar’s throne.
The Giro d’Italia runner-up admitted Sunday was the hardest one-day race of his career. He raced Milan-San Remo twice, but nothing matched Kigali’s punishing 268 km and nearly 6,000 m of climbing. Del Toro entered the world championships as an outsider, having previously competed in the second half of 2025 with Pogačar. Despite attempts to hold his wheel by Spain’s Juan Ayuso, Del Toro refused to surrender when the Slovenian soloed home, citing stomach discomfort and a slow pace on the final lap.
‘El Torito’ left Rwanda with two historic results: fifth in the time trial and seventh in the road race. These achievements surpassed Raúl Alcalá’s 12th place at worlds in 1989, marking a significant milestone for Mexican cyclists. Even Pogačar’s early attempts at the same stage—including four starts and two top-20s before a podium win in 2023—were overshadowed by Del Toro’s stronger performance.
Despite the challenges, Del Toro remained undeterred. His stomach pain affected him significantly, particularly on the last lap, but his focus and teamwork helped him maintain a high level of performance. As he embraced the finish line, Pogačar shared words of encouragement, thanking Del Toro for his hard work and respect. Del Toro expressed pride in his accomplishments, acknowledging both the struggles and the growth they brought him into the peloton.
In the end, Del Toro left Rwanda with two top-10s in his first world championship and carried the hope that young riders could challenge Pogačar’s dominance. He emphasized that while he knew he could have done better, these experiences were essential in shaping his future as a cyclist. 'I have nothing to regret,' he said, reflecting on the journey ahead.
