Isaac del Toro, a 22-year-old Mexican cyclist, has emerged as a rising star in professional road racing, demonstrating remarkable resilience and potential in some of the sport’s most demanding events. His journey from a hospital bed in Italy to the podium at the Tour de France highlights an extraordinary career marked by determination and rapid progress.

At 18, del Toro suffered a severe crash in Italy that resulted in a broken femur, sidelining him for 16 days in a hospital and leaving him without a professional team or financial support far from home. Despite considering abandoning his cycling career, he chose to persevere, using the recovery period to strengthen his resolve. Within weeks of discharge, he returned to the site of his crash for a symbolic training ride, reinforcing his commitment to the sport.

Since then, del Toro’s ascent has been swift. After a standout performance at the 2023 Giro d’Italia, where he wore the race leader’s pink jersey until late in the event, he secured a contract with U.A.E. Team Emirates. During the 2024 Tour de France, del Toro has supported team leader Tadej Pogacar, widely regarded as one of cycling’s top talents. Heading into the final weekend of the Tour, del Toro had positioned himself third overall, putting him in contention for the event’s podium—a notable achievement not seen from a North American rider since 1998.

Del Toro’s teamwork was evident in Stage 15 of the Tour, where he intentionally took a fall to avoid crashing into Pogacar, who was overall leader, after fellow rider Jonas Vingegaard crashed ahead. Despite the fall, del Toro quickly remounted and maintained a strong pace, finishing the stage well ahead of many rivals and solidifying his third-place standing.

The relationship between del Toro and Pogacar has deepened through shared training experiences and collaboration during races. Pogacar notably helped del Toro secure his first Tour de France stage victory on Montjuïc in Barcelona, Spain, by setting up a final sprint. Del Toro described the moment as a reflection of Pogacar’s character and the strong bond between the teammates.

Del Toro’s early life in Mexico laid the foundation for his career. Beginning to cycle at age five, he quickly showed talent in local junior races. However, limited infrastructure and opportunities in Mexico prompted him to relocate to Europe as a teenager. At 14, he moved to San Marino and joined a group of young cyclists traveling across the continent to compete.

His breakthrough came at the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir, a prestigious race for emerging talent, where he won all four classification jerseys and the overall title. This success attracted attention from WorldTour teams, ultimately leading del Toro to U.A.E. Team Emirates, where he rapidly adapted to the demands of the highest level of professional cycling.

In addition to his physical capabilities, del Toro is recognized for his analytical approach to racing, often studying past races to improve his tactics. While his primary role has been supporting Pogacar’s bid for victory, del Toro’s performances have positioned him as a potential future Grand Tour winner.

Del Toro remains grounded about his current status, emphasizing his role as a teammate and expressing respect for the challenges of competing alongside an established champion like Pogacar. As the Tour de France progresses, his blend of youthful ambition and mature perspective continues to capture the attention of the cycling world.