Isaac del Toro is on the cusp of making history as he aims to be the first Mexican champion of the Giro d’Italia. On Friday, during a demanding 166km Stage 19 filled with five challenging climbs in the Italian Alps, the 21-year-old from Baja California successfully defended his lead in the general classification (GC), retaining the coveted pink jersey.
The stage saw Nicolas Prodhomme from Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale stage a remarkable attack, outpacing the breakaway group on the penultimate climb to clinch victory by 58 seconds over the chasing pack. Prodhomme expressed his determination following the stage, acknowledging previous missed opportunities and emphasizing the need to take risks to secure a win.
The intense competition unfolded under sweltering conditions and formidable climbs, with Del Toro displaying exceptional resilience. He responded swiftly to a key acceleration from rival Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost on the final ascent. Del Toro’s decisive sprint allowed him to finish just ahead of Carapaz, extending his lead to 43 seconds.
Despite strong performances from fellow contenders, including Simon Yates and Derek Gee, Del Toro remains firmly in control as they head into Saturday’s final mountain stage. The GC landscape is tightly packed, with Yates sitting in third place, 1:21 back from Del Toro, and Gee trailing by 2:32.
Prodhomme’s stage win marks a career milestone as he captures his first Grand Tour stage victory while the pressure mounts on Del Toro to maintain his lead amidst fierce competition. As the bicycling world anticipates the conclusion of this Giro d’Italia, the next stage promises high stakes, with podium placements still up for grabs.
The upcoming Stage 20 is expected to be a decisive showdown, featuring the challenging Colle delle Finestre and concluding at the summit finish in Sestriere. The climactic challenges ahead will test the limits of all riders, especially the GC favorites, as they strive for glory. Del Toro remains hopeful and focused, expressing gratitude for the support he’s received from his team, and with each pedaled kilometer, he inches closer to his historic dream. The excitement for the final stages of this Giro d’Italia continues to build.