Isaac del Toro delivers Mexico's best Tour de France result with historic third-place finish
Isaac del Toro has etched his name into cycling history, delivering Mexico's finest performance ever at the Tour de France with a third-place overall finish and claiming the white jersey as the race's best young rider under 26.
The 22-year-old from Ensenada, Baja California, known affectionately as 'El Torito' (The Little Bull), stood on the podium in Paris on Sunday alongside Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, who secured a record-equaling fifth Tour title, and Belgian Remco Evenepoel in second place.
Competing in his first Tour de France, del Toro finished 9 minutes, 42 seconds behind Pogačar after three weeks of racing that concluded with a grueling final week in the Alps. Evenepoel trailed the winner by 6:26, while del Toro held a comfortable margin over his nearest rival for the youth classification.
Historic stage victory sparks national celebration
Early in the race, del Toro made history on a 168.5-kilometer stage held entirely in Spain, becoming only the second Mexican rider ever to win a Tour de France stage. The last Mexican to achieve this feat was Monterrey native Raúl Alcalá, who won stages in 1989 and 1990. Alcalá had also won the white jersey at the 1987 Tour de France and finished in the top 10 at five different Grand Tours during his career, making him Mexico's most successful cyclist until now.
Del Toro's journey to professional cycling began with his father, an amateur cyclist who introduced Isaac and his brother to the sport at a young age. Starting with mountain biking and cyclocross before transitioning to road cycling during his mid-teens, del Toro developed the bike-handling skills that would later prove crucial on technical descents and climbs. His first coach, José Ascensión 'Don Chon' Acevedo, rewarded young athletes with popcorn after training sessions, helping instill joy and consistency in the future champion's early cycling habits.
Breakout season establishes rising star
Del Toro's path to the Tour podium began with his victory at the 2023 Tour de l'Avenir, where he became the first Mexican rider to claim the prestigious under-23 title. That performance earned him a contract with UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates, which rebranded as UAE Team Emirates-XRG in December 2024 when XRG, an Abu Dhabi-based energy company, joined as co-title sponsor.
His breakout 2025 season produced 16 victories across stage races and one-day events. At the Giro d'Italia, he finished second overall, won stage 17, and became the first North American rider to win the young rider classification. He also became the youngest rider this century to win a stage while wearing the Maglia Rosa, the iconic pink jersey reserved for the overall race leader.
In recognition of his achievements, del Toro received Mexico's National Sports Award (Premio Nacional del Deporte) in 2025, the country's highest athletic honor. President Claudia Sheinbaum presented the award in a ceremony marking its 50th anniversary.
Team support crucial in final week
Del Toro battled illness during the race's final days but relied on team support and assistance from Pogačar on key climbs, including the summit finish to Alpe d'Huez. The two ride together for the eight-man UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad.
It's not easy to finish on the podium being sick, so I'm really delighted and very grateful to the team for having done this for me.
His performances—including the Barcelona stage win where Pogačar eased up to let his young teammate take the victory—have transformed him into a national figure. Murals have appeared in his honor, hills have been renamed in his native Ensenada, and cycling shops across Mexico report rising demand for bikes and gear.
President Sheinbaum congratulated del Toro on social media Sunday, writing: "Many congratulations to young Isaac del Toro. Mexico is very proud of your effort, dedication and this great moment that inspires an entire country. Congratulations, Isaac! May your success continue."
Elite world ranking secured
Del Toro's Tour de France finish cemented his No. 3 status in the current Union Cycliste Internationale world rankings, behind only Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark. Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France champion, crashed out during Stage 15 while in second place, suffering a broken collarbone. His departure opened the door for Pogačar's fifth title, tying him with Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault for the most Tour de France victories.
Del Toro's achievement adds another chapter to Mexico's cycling heritage, which includes Belem Guerrero becoming the first Mexican woman to win an Olympic medal in cycling with her silver in the women's points race at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
