Isaac Del Toro celebrates emotional Tour de France stage win alongside Tadej Pogacar

Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro, 22, played a decisive role on the Montjuïc climb in Barcelona, helping Slovenian champion Tadej Pogacar secure the stage win. After crossing the line, the two embraced in a long hug, and Del Toro was moved to tears. He told reporters, “Now Tadej is more Mexican than me,” highlighting the close bond the teammates have built since joining UAE Team Emirates.

Del Toro became the first Mexican to raise his arms in victory on the Tour de France since Raúl Alcala in 1990. He described the moment as “unbelievable” for him and his country, saying, “You can’t even imagine what this means for me, for my country…” Fans from Mexico were seen cheering along the route, adding to the emotional atmosphere. Pogacar lifted Del Toro briefly in celebration and waved a large Mexican flag before returning to his bus.

The stage, held in Barcelona, Spain, saw other contenders such as Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard finish close behind, but the spotlight remained on the partnership that turned the climb into a shared triumph.