Del Toro downplays form ahead of crucial Dauphiné finale: 'I just try to be smart'

Isaac del Toro took a significant leap forward on Saturday’s summit finish atop the Grand Colombier. The Mexican Champion timed his effort to perfection, catching Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), who attacked early, before distancing his former teammate and soloing to victory. 

Gaining 24 seconds over Ayuso and 2:33 over race leader Luke Tuckwell (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Del Toro climbed from tenth to third in the overall standings. 

Now, with one final stage remaining, Del Toro sits 49 seconds behind Tuckwell, and 7 seconds behind Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike), leaving himself with an opportunity to win the Dauphiné on debut. 

“We will see how the body is. I am quite excited. I know it won't be easy and yeah I hope to have good legs to fight today," Del Toro told media including CyclingPro.net.

If Del Toro is to win, it would mark his third WorldTour stage race victory of 2026 following the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico. 

Despite his impressive performance on Saturday, Del Toro knows the job is far from done, but is relishing the prospect of the finale, which features over 4,000 metres of elevation gain and a summit finish atop the Plateau de Solaison. 

“I need to take like 47 seconds to the first guy and then don't lose time with the other ones," said Del Toro. "Like 7 seconds to Jorgenson, and then maybe I can win.”

The final climb to Plateau de Solaison holds extra significance as the climb will also host the finish of stage 15 at the Tour de France next month. 

Del Toro, like many, is well aware of the climb, having had a look with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), the rider whom he is hoping to succeed in winning the Dauphiné, before turning his attentions to supporting the World Champion in his bid for a record-equalling fifth Tour victory.

“Yeah, I did one recon," Del Toro recalled of the brutal final ascent. "I think I did one recon this year with Tadej [Pogačar], it was pretty bad weather. I hope today is better, and yeah, hopefully I will be fine.”

Given how he handled the Grand Colombier, the steep gradients of Solaison look tailored to his current form. 

“Yeah, I mean I'm getting better at this kind of thing. So I hope to be better now,” he said. 

Yet, despite his rising status in the race, he downplayed any suggestions that he is currently the strongest climber in the Dauphiné bunch. 

“I never had these kinds of feelings. I just try to be smart and then decide in the right moments. But yeah, like everyone else, I just try to be stronger every race and be competitive," said Del Toro. 

The final stage also brings questions surrounding Del Toro’s rival Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), who crashed early on the penultimate stage, but will start the eighth and final stage, in sixth place, 1:54 behind the race leader. 

Del Toro was also asked about Seixas’ condition, and the Mexican Champion refused to dismiss the threat of the Frenchman despite his visible pain at the end of stage 7. 

“I think if he starts today it is because he thinks he's able to do a good stage. So yeah, of course we consider him as a contender, and we will see in the stage how the legs are of everybody," said the Mexican Champion.

For Del Toro, this final stage is a massive opportunity for personal glory, but it also serves as the final preparation race for his Tour debut where he will support Pogačar. 

“It’s important, but it's not the end of the world," Del Toro said of the Dauphiné finale. "I want to be ready to do my job in the Tour and to be able. So yeah, I'm super excited to do that, but first of all, I need to prepare myself a little bit better and arrive very good.”