At just 21 years old, Isaac del Toro is making history on two wheels. The Mexican cyclist is leading the 2025 Giro d’Italia, one of the three biggest races in all of professional cycling. It’s already an incredible feat, but it hits even harder when you realize no Mexican rider has ever done it before.
Del Toro is now the youngest rider this century (since 2000) to win a stage while wearing the Maglia Rosa, the iconic pink jersey reserved for the overall race leader.
His name might sound new, but Isaac's been putting in the work for years. This kind of breakout doesn’t just happen, especially in a sport still heavily dominated by European talent and tradition. With his rise, he’s gained thousands of fans around the world, and now the cycling world is asking: Who is Isaac del Toro?
So… who is Isaac?
Isaac del Toro Romero was born on November 27, 2003, in Ensenada, Baja California. He started riding competitively as a kid, doing both mountain biking and road cycling. His pro career officially kicked off in 2019 with the A.R. Monex Pro Cycling Team, an Italy-based team led by ex-pro Piotr Ugrumov.
By 2023, he was already turning heads. That August, he became the first Mexican to ever win the Tour de l’Avenir, aka the “Tour de France for under-23 riders.” But he didn’t just win the overall title, he also took home the points, mountain, and best young rider classifications. A clean sweep.
He now rides with UAE Team Emirates, one of the sport’s most elite squads. And at the Giro, Isaac showed just how dangerous he can be. After his Stage 17 win, he told reporters: "Today I realized that I'll never give up and I'll always be one step ahead. I'll always try; I have nothing to lose. Of course, today wasn't any easier than yesterday."
Isaac's versatility is powering him through. He climbs like a machine, has powerful sprinting legs, and doesn’t seem fazed by the pressure, even while wearing pink.
His social media mentions are now flooded with support from fans across Latin America. Proud Mexican flags, heart emojis, and chants of “Viva México!” in every comment thread. At the time of this publication, he has over 253k followers on Instagram.
What’s next?
The Giro isn’t over just yet. The grand finale is set for Sunday, June 1, in Rome. The final stage will be a scenic, ceremonial ride from Rome-EUR to Ostia and back, followed by eight laps through the heart of the Eternal City.
Stage 18 took place on May 29, and while Del Toro didn’t win, he held on to the Maglia Rosa and maintained his 41-second lead over 2019 champion Richard Carapaz, with a 51-second gap ahead of British rider Simon Yates. He also claimed the best young rider’s white jersey (Maglia Bianca).
Speaking to reporters ahead of the final stages, Del Toro said, “I don’t know what the situation will be. I cannot predict the future. But of course, if I can be with the GC [general classification] riders, and more or less keep everything under control for the team, I will be happy enough … I hope to be mentally ready.”