Isaac del Toro reveals true extent of knee injury after Il Lombardia collapse

Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was one of the favourites for Il Lombardia but when Paul Seixas made his powerful surge on the Civigilio climb, the Mexican was quickly distanced, revealing the true impact of his knee problem and the fatigue of a long and successful 2026 season.

De Toro was unable even to fight for a top-ten result and finished 28th in Como, 4:59 down on his young French rival.

"It wasn't the day I hoped for, or my best day on the bike," Del Toro admitted to BiciGoga at the UAE team bus.

"I gave everything I could but my knee and the fatigue from travel caught up with me in the final climbs. It has been a very long season, and the body simply didn't have that extra gear. It became a day to just survive and finish.

De Toro revealed to Domestiqueand other media before Thursday's Gran Piemonte that he was suffering from a slight knee problem after travelling to Europe after the World Championships in Canada.

"The knee made itself felt after so many kilometres," he revealed to Bicisport.

"When I'm on the pedals, it's not much of a problem, it's when I'm in the saddle that I feel it. We let things take their course but it's not a normal situation.

"I couldn't train and I couldn't give my best, my body is tired."

Seixas may have stolen the spotlight at Il Lombardia with his first monument victory at just 20 but Del Toro has also enjoyed a hugely successful season. The two seem set to battle for victory in Grand Tours and the hardest stage races and Classics in the years to come.

Del Toro won the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Deutschland Tour and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. He made his Tour de France debut and won stage 2, while combining with UAE team leader Tadej Pogacar. He went on to finish third in Paris and won the best young rider's white jersey, ahead of Seixas.

"I'm really happy with how the season went," he said. "Now, the season is officially over, and it's time to go home, rest, and completely recover."

Del Toro is expected to make his 2027 season debut at the Mexican national championships in early January and then ride the new races created in Mexico. He is expected to be given a protected leader role at the Giro d'Italia and again target other stages races, while Pogacar targets the Tour de France and some of the spring Classics.

UAE will gather to celebrate their 2026 and discuss goals for 2027 at their usual team get-together and sponsor events in the UAE at the end of October.