
The Simon Yates lesson that Isaac del Toro must learn from unforgettable Giro d'Italia
But as the Mexican progressed through this Giro d'Italia it felt like the Tadej Pogacar comparisons weighed lightly on his shoulders. The 21-year-old seemed a changed figure from the wide-eyed figure who pulled on the maglia rosa in disbelief on stage nine, at the end of an audacious attack on one of the race's toughest stages, the gravel-dotted run into Siena.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider grew into the race, seeming to grow in confidence and stature with each day in head-to-toe pink. It proved difficult for the likes of Richard Carapaz to dislodge him as he marked every one of his rivals' moves, never missing a beat. He outlasted both Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates, in theory the squad's official co-leaders going into the race.
There were echoes of another prodigious talent's youthful enthusiasm in his attacking racing style, and like with Pogacar's Tour de France in 2022, it proved insufficient to win the Giro d'Italia. Jumbo-Visma isolated Pogacar in the French Alps, wearing the Slovenian down through an all-out assault, as his tremendous efforts over the course of the race told and he finally buckled. A similar situation happened the following year.
In Italy, Del Toro appeared at ease closing gaps when other GC contenders attacked, but there were raised eyebrows at his decision to do it all himself, rather than letting his teammates do the dirty work. Question marks remain over UAE Team Emirates' tactics at this race, from their unwillingness to throw the full weight of the squad behind one or the other of del Toro and Ayuso when the Mexican was in the ascendancy, to the failure to work to bring back Yates on the Colle delle Finestre, instead letting the race win ride away into the clouds.
Ironically, it was partially a reversion to conservative tactics that cost Del Toro the win – but his exhaustion on the penultimate stage will only have been compounded by the unnecessary energy he spent earlier in the race.
Inevitably, Del Toro will be back; his class and ability were apparent as a youngster and have only been emphasised by his near two-week stint in the pink jersey. He is the youngest podium finisher at the Giro since Fausto Coppi 85 years ago, and second on his Giro debut. Grand Tour wins are in his future.
But rather than youthful enthusiasm and star power, this Giro was won on patience and experience. Simon Yates raced his 2018 Giro in the aggressive way Del Toro began his stint in pink, before cracking spectacularly with the finish line in sight, losing 38 minutes on the Finestre as he watched Chris Froome ride away to glory. This time Yates, 21st on stage one, kept a low profile until the last possible moment. It was a win seven years in the making.
While Del Toro stole the show for much of this race, and the complex politics among UAE's young cohort of starlets made for drama, this race was one for a generation of old-timers. Comparatively, at least.
For Primoz Roglic, the overwhelming pre-race favourite, it was a disappointment. In his last twelve Grand Tours, going back to his maiden Vuelta victory in 2019, he has either finished on the podium (seven times) or abandoned the race (five).
But this was the redemption tour for the 32-year-old Simon Yates; the exhilarating comeback of 28-year-old Egan Bernal, seventh on GC in Rome and back to attacking ways, three years on from the crash that nearly killed him; the unexpected renaissance of one of cycling's canniest racers, 32-year-old Richard Carapaz.
Last year's Giro was a story of untempered dominance, of one of the most brilliant riders to ever grace the sport. This year's was a story of romance, of incredible perseverance, of a rider returning triumphant to the scene of one of his lowest moments. On the other side, it was a story of a young man with the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders, making history for Mexico and breaking new ground. Lit up by the attacks of the 2019 and 2021 winners, won by a rider who may have thought his chances of another victory at the corsa rosa had passed him by, and the scene of Del Toro's coming of age, this Giro was the sport's past, present and future, all in one.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
11 minutes ago
- Reuters
EU's Kallas warns that China needs to rebalance trade relationship with EU
BRUSSELS, July 2 (Reuters) - The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas told Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Wednesday that Beijing needed to rebalance its trade relationship with the EU and warned Chinese companies' support for Russia's war in Ukraine posed a serious threat to European security. "She also called on China to put an end to its distortive practices, including its restrictions on rare earths exports, which pose significant risks to European companies and endanger the reliability of global supply chains," the EU readout said.


The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘A loved one to all of us' – Arne Slot pays emotional tribute to Diogo Jota after Liverpool star's tragic death
ARNE SLOT has paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota following the tragic news of the Liverpool star's death. Jota died in a car accident on Thursday while driving through Zamora, Spain with his younger brother, Andre Silva. 3 3 Tributes poured in from across the world of sport, not just football. His club described the loss of the 28-year-old as "devastating". Manager Slot has now penned his own heartfelt tribute for the Portuguese footballer, saying he was "loved by all". In a tribute shared on Liverpool's website, Slot, 46, said: "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not. "All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about. "My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss. "My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football. "This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole. "For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special." Slot went on to praise Jota's humble nature, never seeking popularity but finding it, and befriending everyone as someone who made others feel good about themselves. The Dutchman also highlighted the late attacker's hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, and goals as a player. He then revealed his final conversation with Jota was to congratulate him for Portugal's victory in the Uefa Nations League and wishing him luck for his wedding. Dad-of-three Jota had married his just 10 days before his heartbreaking passing. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.


Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Lewis Hamilton reveals his F1 food habits ahead of British Grand Prix
F1 legend Lewis Hamilton was summoned to London ahead of the British Grand Prix to mark the grand opening of a racing-inspired pop-up event with Ferrari. To celebrate the second year of partnership between Scuderia Ferrari HP and Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, UK fans have been treated to a slice of Italy in the heart of Covent Garden. The 40-year-old appeared in great spirits at the launch alongside the evening's host, Nick Grimshaw, with the duo watching on as Pizza Chef Michele Pascarella offered a masterclass on how to cook the Hamilton-inspired #44 pizza. During a Q&A with host Grimshaw at the grand opening, Hamilton reflected on the culture shock he experienced having switched from a largely British garage when driving for McLaren and Mercedes, to now spending most of his time in Maranello with Ferrari. 'The Brits loved curry, my British team they would always have a curry so like on Sunday morning when they'd come into the race they'd literally stink, they all smelled of curry in the morning, garlic was just in our engineering room all the time,' Hamilton said. 'They weren't passionate about food otherwise. Italians? Oh my God. There's literally a scheduled time in the day, lunch they can never, ever miss. 'Sometimes I go into the garage to talk to my mechanics, I'm like, where is everyone? They're at lunch. 'I think they're the only team that does that!' The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is open from 3rd–5th July at The Stables in Covent Garden. Free tickets are available via sign-up at Club Peroni. Rob Hobart, Marketing Director at Asahi UK, commented on the pop-up: 'We're proud to bring The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% to London - an experience that embodies everything our partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP stands for: passion, precision and premium Italian style. 'As we enter our second year together, we're excited to give fans a unique opportunity to get closer to the world of F1, all while enjoying the refreshing taste of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%.' The House of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% was declared open by none other than seven-time champion Hamilton ahead of his first home race in red at Silverstone this weekend. A standout feature of the event was the chance to get up close to a Ferrari F1 showcar, with replica helmets and race suits of Hamilton and Leclerc's signature racing looks also on show.