UAE

In the hierarchy of the great cycling races, the Vuelta a España is the gateway. Then comes the Giro from Italy and leads into the royal hall: the Tour from France. The pedal phenomenon, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, crossed that threshold at the age of 19 to begin a career that today seems unattainable. For that reason, in the first stage of the Iberian race that memory floated when seeing the Mexican Isaac del Toro, a recognized promise in this world on wheels, who at the age of 20 has the opportunity to be presented in the circuit of the most prestigious competitions and in a luxury team: UAE Team Emirates, the same one that represents Slovenia.

In his first appearance, Del Toro finished in 39th place. The Mexican’s task in this Vuelta is to be the team leader’s squire. The sacrifice of the teammates by putting pressure, creating a bubble, cutting through the air and putting his face on the line serves to ensure that his leader is less worn out when it comes to the decisive duels.

The big showcase

Team Emirates got off to a flying start yesterday, with the American Brandon McNulty winning the time trial with the fastest time in the history of the Vuelta. The clock registered 12 minutes and 35 seconds, a couple of seconds less than Mathias Vacek and three ahead of Wout van Art. Del Toro was 13th with 17th, but his strength is his endurance in uphill battles.

The Baja Californian knows very well that this is his great showcase, as it was for his teammate Pogacar, one of the most significant absences in this race and who just a few weeks ago conquered the Tour from France.

Del Toro also brought Mexico back to the big European races. For more than two decades there was no competitor from this country and only five have reached this competition; the most recent was Juan Alberto Pérez Cuapio, in 2001, and the oldest Felipe Enriquez Rojas, in 1988. The best performance was recorded by Raúl Alcalá, who finished seventh in 1991 and eighth in 1992, in addition to being the only one who has won two stages of the Tour French.

Del Toro came to light just two years ago as something of a revelation. Unknown to the European cycling world, he snatched victory at the Tour del Porvenir, aimed at young competitors. That victory made everyone wonder who this Mexican was and why he didn’t have a team. A few months later he would sign with the prestigious UAE Team Emirates, where the star is Pogacar.

Joxean Fernández, rebelTeam Emirates’ sporting director and Pogacar’s discoverer, is also responsible for Del To-ro being on this grand tour. He told The Day who met him through social media and began to follow the amateur career of the tricolor.

“I gave him advice, we chatted, I followed him, but after winning the Tour del Porvenir changed his sporting status and we ended up signing him,” he says. rebel.

“I told him that I was ready for a big team and to take the step directly to a world tour. Because of our communication, we were more advanced, there was mutual trust and because we had known each other for a long time, the move to Emirates was natural.”

rebel He anticipated that 2024 will be the big year for the Mexican cyclist and here he is in a big race to make himself known. For three weeks he will try to give his best performance in the Vuelta, which started in Lisbon and will end on September 8 in Madrid.