Isaac Del Toro dominates Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes with final-stage win

Isaac Del Toro seals Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes victory with commanding final-stage win

Mexican climber Isaac Del Toro delivered a masterclass in the Alps on Sunday, securing the 78th edition of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with a dominant solo victory on the Plateau de Solaison. The 22-year-old UAE Emirates-XRG rider finished 1 minute 23 seconds clear of American Matthew Jorgenson, with Spaniard Carlos Ayuso and Australian Ben Tuckwell completing the podium. Del Toro’s triumph, achieved after 120.1 kilometres from Beaufort to the summit finish, marks the latest in a rapid ascent that positions him as a serious contender for the upcoming Tour de France.

Del Toro’s performance on the Plateau de Solaison—also scheduled for the 2026 Tour de France—sent a clear message to the peloton. His attack on the final climb left rivals struggling to respond, extending his lead in the general classification to over two minutes. The result follows his second stage win of the week, consolidating his status as the form rider ahead of cycling’s biggest race. “This is a huge confidence boost,” Del Toro said after the stage. “The Plateau de Solaison is a climb that will be decisive in July, and today I showed I can handle it.”

The race’s conclusion in France comes just days after Del Toro’s teammate Tadej Pogačar hinted at a potential leadership role for the young Mexican in the Tour de France. Pogačar, a four-time Tour winner, has increasingly relied on Del Toro as a key domestique, but Sunday’s victory suggests Del Toro may now be ready to lead his own campaign. Belgian newspaper *La Libre* described the win as a “prestige performance” that could redefine his role within the UAE Emirates-XRG squad.

In a parallel story from the Pyrenees, Spanish rider Paula Blasi claimed victory in the Tour des Pyrénées, dominating the queen stage over the Col du Tourmalet to secure the overall title. Dutchman Lars Jansen won the final stage, but Blasi’s 2-minute 47-second margin underscored her dominance in the mountains. Her triumph adds to a growing list of female cyclists breaking through in traditionally male-dominated races, signalling a shift in the sport’s competitive landscape.

Del Toro’s rise coincides with a period of transition in men’s cycling, where emerging talents are reshaping the hierarchy ahead of the Tour de France. His ability to perform on terrain identical to that of the Grand Départ in Lille suggests he could play a pivotal role in July. With two stage wins and the general classification secured, Del Toro has not only won a prestigious race but has also staked his claim as a future Tour de France protagonist.