Starting in the top positions during the Espoirs World Time Trial Championship, Isaac Del Toro remained in the top positions for a long time. hot seatsbefore his time was finally improved ten times by the most powerful riders in the peloton at the end of the event (see ranking). “I am happy with my feelings, I have the feeling that my legs are good, even if there is a little disappointment of not doing a little better”he conceded to the microphone of DirectVelo in the mixed zone, after the race. “I didn’t take all the risks on the descents either. On a wet road, with the road race coming up, it would have been ridiculous to mess up.”.
The road race, in fact, takes place on Friday afternoon and on paper, the Mexican will be one of the riders to follow. “The course seems interesting to me. But I am not the favourite, if only because I will be isolated against big teams.”he tempers. The regular UAE Team Emirates rider cites two names among the strong men to watch, and in this case two of his teammates for the year, the Swiss Jan Christen and the Portuguese Antonio Morgado.
NO ADDITIONAL PRESSURE
Whether or not he wins a medal on the shores of Lake Zurich, the winner of the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir has obviously already had a successful first year as a pro. Winner of a stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia, then winner of the Tour of Asturias in the spring, 7th in the Tour of the Basque Country in the WorldTour, 13th in the Tour of Switzerland, twice in the Top 10 of stages in the Tour of Spain for his first Grand Tour at the age of 20, he already seems to be a different man and a different rider compared to last year. Even if he assures us that he is not. “I am still the same rider as last year, just with a bit more power and body. In any case, it is obvious that I am happy with this first season, everything has already worked well”.
Isaac Del Toro remains measured in his remarks and does not get carried away. “I am still very young, I have a lot of work to do even if the level is already decent. I have to improve in absolutely all aspects. I think I have a good margin of progression and that is very encouraging. I want to take my time, even if I have the feeling of having already evolved and learned a lot. You have to stay calm and not skip steps in a team where I am surrounded by great riders.”. Didn’t his victory in Australia immediately send him into another dimension, with expectations quickly rising and additional pressure for the rest of the year? “Honestly, not at all. The team had decided to give me my chance right from the start, I always had the freedom to play my card here and there, throughout the season. It worked very quickly. I mainly wanted to enjoy it, it was a nice surprise but I didn’t put much more pressure on myself because of it, it was totally useless.”A World title in Switzerland would in any case transform this very good 2024 season into an excellent vintage.
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