Del Toro, Pogačar's key helper, conquers competition

Isaac del Toro, a crucial support rider for Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France campaign, claimed a significant victory at the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes race. The young cyclist triumphed on the iconic Gran Colombier, demonstrating his climbing prowess.

Del Toro, riding for UAE Emirates, outpaced his former teammate Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) in the final kilometers. Ayuso had launched an attack earlier, building a small lead, but Del Toro's measured pacing allowed him to catch and then surpass the Spaniard.

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Del Toro, who will be Tadej Pogačar's last support rider at the Tour de France, immediately tried an attack and got rid of Ayuso.

The race was not without incident. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) crashed and lost significant time on the final climb. Earlier, Gal Glivar, the sole remaining Slovenian rider, also fell during a closed-course ride and was forced to withdraw due to injury. Luke Tuckwell, who had dedicated his yellow jersey to his late sister, lost time on the stage but remained the overall leader.

Del Toro's win solidifies his role as a key contender and support for Pogačar in the upcoming Tour de France. The challenging final stage is expected to bring further attacks from the main favorites vying for one of Europe's major multi-day race victories.

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The Mexican national champion Isaac del Toro will be a key member of the Emirates team at the Tour de France.