21-year-old Mexican becomes the youngest rider this century to win a stage in the Maglia Rosa, extending his lead heading deep into the final week
May 28, 2025
Isaac del Toro delivered a resounding response to the pressure of his rivals at the Giro d’Italia, winning stage 17 in style and extending his lead in the Maglia Rosa. It was a remarkable display from the young 21-year-old, who had suffered time losses in the previous stage and showed all of his character to turn the tables on his opponents in the final kilometres of Wednesday’s stage.
Having weathered the attacks of his fellow podium contenders earlier in the stage, the Mexican delivered a searing attack on the final climb of the day, before distancing both Romain Bardet (Picnic PostNL) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) on the run to home. Coming across the line alone in Bormio, Del Toro sealed the first Grand Tour stage victory of his fledgling career.
In doing so, the race leader claimed a 40th victory of the season for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and became the first Mexican to win a stage of the Giro in 23 years. In fact, Del Toro is only the second Mexican to do so in history. It was a performance to be proud of for the Emirati squad, who had surrounded the Maglia Rosa with numbers and ensured that the stage was up for grabs in the finale.
Greeting his teammate Rafał Majka at the finish, Del Toro could scarcely believe what he had just achieved, but speaking to the awaiting TV cameras, the stage 17 winner revealed that a late attack had always been in his thoughts.
Del Toro: “I want to imagine [my Giro] like this. So far, it has been really good. I think this is my third or fourth podium this Giro. It is incredible.
“Everybody wants this and today I realised I will never give up, and I will always stay one step in front, and I will always try it. I have nothing to lose and today was not easier than yesterday, but for sure I have a better mentality.
“I predicted with the team that something like this would happen [Richard Carapaz’s attack on the Mortirolo], and of course, you don’t want to let go of all the GC riders. I went to them, I take it easy, I put a little bit of pressure on the other ones after the descent and then I just tried to relax and recover, because obviously that was a hard stage.
“We made this plan with the team and the team gave me all the confidence to try full gas. To attack on the last climb was the plan.”
Del Toro weathers the storm
Earlier in the stage, Del Toro’s rivals could be forgiven for looking to pile on the pressure. On stage 16, the Mexican had shed time to both Carapaz and Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final summit finish of the race, promising another all-important showdown on Wednesday afternoon.
In turn, both Visma-Lease a Bike and EF Education-EasyPost sent satellite riders up the road in the day’s breakaway, hoping to put the cat amongst the pigeons when it came to the fight for the Maglia Rosa. Making sure to protect his teammate, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Brandon McNulty responded in kind by positioning himself as part of a 38-man break. The American was among the strongest riders out front and retained his place as the group began to splinter on the first categorised climb.
At the top of the Passo del Tonale, the break had been allowed a three-minute advantage by the Polti VisitMalta-led peloton, with the fearsome Passo del Mortirolo (12.7km at 7.6%) next to come.
In the upper reaches of the Mortirolo, Del Toro had Igor Arrieta, Adam Yates and Rafał Majka by his side, but Carapaz was not content with letting this opportunity pass. The 2019 Giro d’Italia champion took his moment with 1.5km to ride, attacking from the peloton and going over the summit some 10 seconds ahead of Del Toro. To his credit, the Mexican had ridden within himself and stuck to the back wheel of Yates, recognising that plenty of road was left between here and the finish.
On the descent of the Mortirolo, both Adam Yates and Majka returned to Del Toro’s side, and with Carapaz seeking help from his teammate Georg Steinhauser, McNulty dropped back from the breakaway. With McNulty back in the fold and both Adam Yates and Majka performing admirably, the group of Del Toro and Simon Yates were able to mop up that of Carapaz as the final categorised climb reared its head.
On the Motte (3.2km at 8%), Del Toro was a figure rejuvenated, attacking near the summit with ferocious abandon. Only Carapaz could stay on the wheel of the race leader and soon enough, the pair had caught the final remnant of the day’s break, Romain Bardet. Through the final kilometres, the trio were able to hold off the chasing pack, that is, until Del Toro decided it was time to take his leave.
On the outskirts of Bormio, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man prised a gap from his companions and made a bid to reach the finish line alone. It was a perfectly-timed move from Del Toro, who arrived at the finish alone and extended his lead in the Maglia Rosa. For the Mexican, it was a moment to remember, as he struck back and showed himself well up to the fight for this year’s Giro d’Italia come Rome.
Giro d’Italia 2025 stage 17 results
- Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 3:58:48
- Romain Bardet (Picnic PostNL) +4″
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) s.t
General classification after Giro d’Italia stage 17
- Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 65:30:34
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) +41″
- Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) +51″
