Del Toro: "It's a Genial Victory, I Can't Believe It"

Isaac del Toro of Mexico is celebrating a "genial" victory after clinching his second consecutive stage win and the overall title at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The UAE team rider expressed disbelief and pure joy at his accomplishment, which sees him follow in the footsteps of his team leader, Tadej Pogačar, in the race's prestigious palmarès.

“

I am super happy for winning the queen stage. I did the course recon a few months ago and didn't know until two days ago that this is the same climb we did, but it was nice to remember the recon with Tadej Pogačar, and it's super genial to achieve the victory for the team. It is simply incredible, we fought for this and it's simply genial. I can't believe it.

"I am super happy for winning the queen stage," Del Toro stated, visibly emotional. "I did the course recon a few months ago and didn't know until two days ago that this is the same climb we did, but it was nice to remember the recon with Tadej Pogačar, and it's super genial to achieve the victory for the team. It is simply incredible, we fought for this and it's simply genial. I can't believe it."

The 22-year-old cyclist from Ensenada felt a special connection to winning after Pogačar, a rider he holds in high regard. "It means a lot to win after Tadej, he has a lot of respect and I just want to be as happy as him on the bike and try to enjoy this. It's crazy," he commented.

“

It means a lot to win after Tadej, he has a lot of respect and I just want to be as happy as him on the bike and try to enjoy this. It's crazy.

Del Toro's decisive solo breakaway of 8.8 kilometers on the queen stage to Plateau de Solaison was a risky but ultimately successful strategy. "We had everything planned. I know that after yesterday everyone started looking at me. Pablo Torres launched me and I kept going until the finish. Probably if I had known it was 8 or 9 kilometers, I probably wouldn't have attacked, but I went with the flow, and I'm very happy I achieved it," he concluded.

“

We had everything planned. I know that after yesterday everyone started looking at me. Pablo Torres launched me and I kept going until the finish. Probably if I had known it was 8 or 9 kilometers, I probably wouldn't have attacked, but I went with the flow, and I'm very happy I achieved it.