Mexican cycling fans are once again thrilled by the action on European roads, following an authoritative performance by Isaac del Toro. Where did Isaac del Toro place? In the opening stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, also known as the Tour of the Basque Country, he finished in 13th place in the 10-kilometer individual time trial held around Bilbao. With a time of 18:00.11 minutes, the “Torito” was just 51 seconds behind the surprising French leader, Paul Seixas, demonstrating that his preparation for the Tour de France is on the right track. The stage was not easy; the course featured technical walls and vertiginous descents that tested the skill of the world's best riders. Del Toro, who arrives at this competition after a spectacular start to the season with wins at the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico, knew how to manage his effort on the uphill sections, minimizing damage compared to specialists like Primož Roglič and beating his own teammate and co-leader, Juan Ayuso in the timing. The most relevant aspect of the day for the national sport is that Isaac emerged as the fastest rider on his team, the powerful UAE Team Emirates. In a squad full of stars, the 22-year-old from Baja California assumed the role of leader on the road, surpassing experienced teammates like Felix Großschartner and Brandon McNulty by mere seconds. This result reaffirms the blind confidence that the sports management has placed in him to lead the project in Basque lands. “I felt good, the legs responded on the climbs, and that's where we knew we could recover time,” Del Toro stated after his participation in Bilbao. The Mexican, current National Road Race Champion, now holds a strategic position in the General Classification, ready to tackle the high mountain stages where he usually makes a difference. What's next for the “Torito”? The battle for the txapela (Basque beret) has just begun. This Tuesday, Itzulia will continue with Stage 2, a 164.1-kilometer route between Pamplona and the Cuevas de Mendukilo. It will be an undulating terrain conducive to attacks, where Isaac del Toro is expected to seek to climb positions and cut the distance to the lead. With the backing of Mexican fans who have rallied on social media under the hashtag #Itzulia2026, Isaac del Toro continues to write his name in gold letters in elite cycling, proving he is not just a promise, but a reality that competes on equal terms with the titans of the World Tour.
