UAE Team Emirates XRG manager Mauro Gianetti has confirmed Isaac del Toro can pursue a Tour de France podium place, provided the attempt does not compromise Tadej Pogačar’s yellow jersey.
Speaking to Cyclism’Actu after Tuesday’s stage 16 time trial, Gianetti placed Pogačar’s overall lead above Del Toro’s defence of third place and the white jersey.
“He is a few seconds ahead of Seixas but not many, so it is a possibility, but without putting the yellow jersey in difficulty,” Gianetti said. “If Isaac needs to use his position in the general classification and his qualities for the yellow jersey, he will do it. So, if we can, we will keep this position, but without losing focus on the yellow jersey.”
Del Toro leads Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) by 20 seconds in both the podium contest and young rider classification. Pogačar leads Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) by 4:32, with Del Toro third at 6:51. That leaves Pogačar in a very comfortable position and gives Del Toro much more freedom.
Evenepoel won the 26.1km time trial from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains in 32:19, beating Pogačar by 28 seconds. Seixas finished fourth at 1:16, while Del Toro placed eighth at 1:20 and conceded four seconds to the Frenchman.
Gianetti said UAE had deliberately limited its exposure on the technical descent, where speeds approached 100km/h. Pogačar and Del Toro avoided unnecessary risks, while Evenepoel built his winning ride on the uphill portion of the course.
“For us, it was a very good operation today because Isaac Del Toro was able to stay more or less in Paul Seixas’ time for the white jersey,” Gianetti said. “There is so much mountain to come until Saturday, we will see.”
Evenepoel complicates UAE’s two-rider objective
Gianetti said the race itself will shape how Del Toro rides with risks and dangers around every corner. The two riders who finished on the podium with Pogačar at last year’s Tour have both crashed out with broken collarbones in consecutive stages. Both Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) were key riders in the GC fight. With Vingegaard gone it does relieve some of the pressure Pogačar may feel. It could allow him to support Del Toro without risking too much of his own lead.
Evenepoel’s improving form gives UAE reason for caution, but Pogačar’s 4:32 advantage allows him to follow the Belgian’s moves rather than attack. If Evenepoel then falters in the high-altitude Alpine stages, Del Toro could potentially challenge him for second place.
If Evenepoel is controllable by Pogačar, then Del Toro will have carte blanche. He may well be allowed to respond to moves from his closest rival, Seixas, anyway. Just 20 seconds split the two and there is no room for error. If the Mexican champion can follow the young Frenchman then there is every chance that a final spot on the podium will be confirmed. And even then, if Del Toro and Seixas can get away, then Pogačar can follow Evenepoel and try to frustrate him – allowing the gap to grow out and maybe risk Evenepoel’s second overall as well.
The focus on Evenepoel as well as Seixas and the others behind came after Evenepoel won stages 15 and 16 with the Belgian taking his first road stage victory at the Tour at Plateau de Solaison and in the time trial. Evenepoel now sits 2:19 ahead of Del Toro, while his 28 second gain on Pogačar in the overall standings showed that UAE cannot treat the yellow jersey as settled quite yet.
“Remco Evenepoel is confident; he was strong, he won at Plateau de Solaison and today he won again,” Gianetti added. “We have seen him do extraordinary things and we have to remain vigilant and above all stay regular without losing energy if it is not necessary.”
UAE had already shown its interest in Del Toro’s podium bid on stage 15. Pogačar appeared to moderate his effort on the climb to Plateau de Solaison while working with his teammate, although Evenepoel ultimately beat both riders in the sprint. That said, Pogačar did not look like he was trying for the stage win, potentially due to Vingegaard’s crash earlier in the stage.
UAE teammate Nils Politt also confirmed to Radsport that placing two riders on the Paris podium remains an objective. “Of course, having two people on the podium is in the back of our minds,” Politt said after the time trial. “That would be world-class and really nice for Isaac.”
Del Toro has said his attention extends beyond Seixas because the gaps around him can change quickly in the Alps. Fifth-placed Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) is 2:31 behind the Mexican although he seems to be slipping backwards, while the narrow margin to Seixas offers little protection against one difficult climb or badly timed mechanical problem.
The podium push follows Del Toro’s second place at the 2025 Giro d’Italia, where he lost the pink jersey on the penultimate stage after a tactical stalemate during the decisive Colle delle Finestre. His 2026 season has included overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he won the final summit stage at Plateau de Solaison.
Del Toro’s form and results this season show he can compete at the highest level in a Grand Tour, but Gianetti remains cautious about the surprises the Tour can still produce.
“This is the Tour and every day there can be traps,” Gianetti said. “You have to stay focused. After that, in the mountains, the legs do the talking.”
Cover image credit: Charly Lopez
Velora newsletter
Never miss a story
The biggest cycling stories, tech insight and race analysis — twice a week, free.
