Isaac del Toro ended his 2026 season with a difficult ride at the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday. The 22-year-old Mexican rider finished 28th after struggling to follow the main group during the key moments of the race.
Del Toro was named as one of UAE Team Emirates XRG’s leaders for the final major race of the season. He shared that role with American rider Brandon McNulty, as team star Tadej Pogacar was absent.
Both riders had shown strong form in races held after the World Championships. However, their hopes of a top result in Lombardy faded when the race split apart on the Civiglio climb.
French rider Paul Seixas launched a powerful attack on the climb. The move quickly changed the race, with several riders unable to stay with the leading group. Del Toro was among the first riders to lose contact.
McNulty managed to remain in the first group of chasers behind Seixas. Yet the American could not close the gap to the French rider and had to focus on the battle for the remaining places.
McNulty eventually sprinted from the chasing group to finish fifth. Del Toro crossed the line in 28th place, just under five minutes behind the winner.
The result marked a disappointing end to a season in which Del Toro had shown considerable promise. His team did not comment after the finish, leaving questions about the reasons behind his performance.
Del Toro’s physical condition had been a concern in the days before the race. After the World Championships, the Mexican rider reported serious jet lag and knee pain following a long journey from Montreal, Canada.
The travel and discomfort affected his preparation for the final part of the season. He competed in Gran Piemonte before heading to Lombardy, using the race as his only event after the World Championships.
There were signs of improvement before the Tour of Lombardy. Del Toro said his knee was feeling better during the team presentation on Friday.
He explained that the pain was less troubling when he was pedaling. It was more noticeable when he sat on the bike, suggesting that the problem had not fully disappeared.
His comments offered some hope that he could finish the season strongly. His performance in Gran Piemonte had also suggested that he was beginning to recover from the problems that followed his trip from Canada.
However, the Tour of Lombardy presented a much tougher test. The race is known for its demanding climbs and repeated changes in pace. Riders must remain close to the front to respond when leading contenders attack.
When Seixas accelerated on the Civiglio, Del Toro could not maintain contact with the main contenders. The split left him facing a difficult chase, while McNulty remained better placed behind the race leader.
McNulty had enjoyed a strong run of performances in the Italian autumn races. He also competed in his rainbow jersey after winning the world title. His fifth-place finish in Lombardy added another solid result to that period.
Del Toro had taken a different approach to his final races. His appearance at Gran Piemonte gave him a chance to test his condition after the World Championships and prepare for the season-ending event.
Although his knee was improving, the Lombardy result showed that he was unable to match the pace of the strongest riders on the day. It remains unclear how much his earlier discomfort affected his performance.
The absence of Pogacar also placed more responsibility on Del Toro and McNulty. Both were expected to lead the team, but the decisive attack left Del Toro behind and prevented McNulty from challenging for victory.
For Del Toro, the race brought his season to a close without the result he had hoped for. His 28th place stood in contrast to the strong form he had shown earlier in the year.
The Mexican now faces the next stage of his career after a demanding final stretch of racing. His recovery from the knee issue and his preparation for the next season will be important topics for the team as it reviews the campaign.
McNulty’s fifth place provided a better finish for UAE Team Emirates XRG, but the team left Lombardy without the victory it had hoped to secure. Seixas’s attack proved decisive, while Del Toro’s late-season struggles ended his campaign on a difficult note.
