Del Toro thanks rival teams after UAE car missed him during Tour bike change
Isaac del Toro’s stage victory in Barcelona came with an unexpected backstory. Long before he crossed the line first on Montjuïc, the Mexican rider had been left scrambling behind the peloton after a mechanical problem and a confusing moment in the race convoy.
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Del Toro suddenly found himself distanced from the bunch when he was forced to change bikes. With the race moving at speed and the road situation far from ideal, he tried to alert the following team cars. But according to Del Toro, two cars passed him before anyone was able to respond.
“I had a problem with the bike, and I simply did not have time to make myself properly visible,” Del Toro said. “I tried to warn the cars, but two team cars drove straight past me, right in front of me. So yes, there was some confusion.”
The situation could have cost him dearly. Instead, help came from an unlikely source: rival teams.
Del Toro said the second cars from several teams stopped to assist him, allowing him to get moving again and begin the chase back towards the peloton. He singled out Visma | Lease a Bike and Netcompany-Ineos for their role, while also making clear that multiple teams were willing to help in a moment that cut across normal competitive lines.
“Fortunately, the second car from each team stopped to help me, especially Visma, Ineos and really everyone,” he said at the press conference after the race in quotes collected by Feltet. “I am very grateful for the help they wanted to give me. A lot of respect to all the teams.”
On Monday, Van Dongen gave the Visma | Lease a Bike side of the story, explaining that his position in the convoy meant he was the first second team car able to react.
“I was driving the second team car, which meant we were also the first ‘second team car’ in the convoy,” Van Dongen told WielerFlits. “I saw both UAE team cars drive past him right in front of me, so I decided to stop. Our mechanic ran over to help him, because his chain had come off and his shifting system was in crash mode.”
The incident added a remarkable twist to what later became a memorable day for Del Toro and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. After rejoining the peloton, he was still able to play a decisive role in the finale. When Mattias Skjelmose attacked dangerously on the descent, Del Toro was sent after him and helped bring the move under control.
From there, the finale turned in his favour. Tadej Pogačar, positioned behind his young teammate, did not come around him in the closing metres, leaving Del Toro to take a striking victory on the second stage of the Tour de France.
Del Toro admitted that the outcome had not been part of the plan.
“That was not the plan at all. I know Tadej does not want to put pressure on me, and I came here to enjoy myself, but also to race at the highest level possible. I am so happy to have been given this opportunity, and I will remember it for the rest of my life,” he said.
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