Del Toro weighs in on Worlds tactics debate: ‘Other teams used the fact we didn’t have the best team’

The 22-year-old arrived in Canada as one of the major favourites for the rainbow jersey after an outstanding season and his recent victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. But after another brutal race on the same roads, fifth place was all he had to show for his efforts.

McNulty attacked with around 32 kilometres remaining and ultimately stayed clear to become world champion. Behind him, the group containing Del Toro, Matthews, Mathieu van der Poel, Pidcock and several other contenders repeatedly broke apart and came back together.

It was what Del Toro did, or did not do, once his UAE teammate was alone at the front that became a talking point afterwards.

Pidcock was particularly clear in his assessment, saying Del Toro was “obviously working for McNulty in the end”. The Briton also pointed towards the strength of the American team and the presence of Matteo Jorgenson in the chasing group as factors that made it difficult to organise a pursuit.

Matthews stopped short of naming Del Toro directly, but raised a similar issue after taking silver. The Australian suggested there had been cooperation between riders who normally share trade team colours despite representing different countries in Montréal.

Del Toro, however, saw the tactical battle from almost the opposite perspective.

“We were very decisive and I'm happy with the race we did, we raced very well as a nation,” he told ESPN MX. “We didn't win but we took a good step forward in terms of our group mentality and our ambitions for these kinds of races.”

Then came the telling part.

“And if all the peloton raced a little against us or used the fact we didn't have the best team, I think we're going to battle all the more next year.”

Mexico entered the elite men's race without anything resembling the depth available to nations such as the United States, France or Belgium.

Del Toro had five compatriots alongside him, but there was a huge difference in experience between Mexico's leader and much of the team around him. That left the Tour de France podium finisher increasingly isolated as the race reached its decisive phase.

Rather than accepting the suggestion that he had allowed McNulty to benefit from their UAE connection, Del Toro stressed that his own objective had never changed.

“I think it was clear that we came to win, I left it all out there, we tried everything,” he said. “Maybe I should have positioned myself better for that final sprint.”

That final detail was the one mistake Del Toro was willing to identify himself.

By the time McNulty was gone, the Mexican was forced to balance two problems. Chasing every move risked emptying the tank completely, but waiting for the other favourites to take responsibility allowed the American to keep his advantage.

Earlier in the race Del Toro had already invested heavily in bringing back a dangerous move containing riders including Mathieu van der Poel, Primož Roglič and Quinn Simmons. Once McNulty attacked, the American team also had riders behind who had every reason to disrupt attempts to organise the chase.

The result was a tactical stalemate that worked perfectly for McNulty.

Del Toro does not appear interested in using that as an excuse.

“I'm satisfied with the effort, but I'm not happy at all,” he said. “I'm not settling for this at all. We knew we could win and it's a pity I didn't do it.”

Those words also contrast sharply with the suggestion that his trade team relationship with McNulty became more important than Mexico's chances of winning the world title.

Del Toro explained that his aggressive racing earlier in the afternoon came from precisely the opposite instinct.

“I didn't want the gold medal to get away from me.”

Eventually, however, all that work began to take its toll.

“Finally, though, it was very difficult for me to keep going and I think I ran fifth, unfortunately, so it's a bittersweet taste. We have to go on fighting.”

The Mexican also had no problem acknowledging the quality of McNulty's victory. The two know each other well from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, where McNulty has spent large parts of his career working for more celebrated leaders.

“I could be arrogant and say I want the rainbow for me,” Del Toro said. “But even if I'm happy for him because I know him a bit, I also know that Mexico came here to win.”