CYCLING: Del Toro wins Tour de France stage two as Pogacar closes in on Vingegaard

BARCELONA — Isaac del Toro overcame a mid-stage mechanical issue and a lengthy delay for a replacement bike before launching a decisive late attack to win Stage 2 of the Tour de France on Sunday, becoming only the second Mexican rider to win a stage in the race’s history.

Del Toro’s victory, more than three decades after Raúl Alcalá’s breakthrough, marked a milestone for Mexican cycling. His UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate and defending champion Tadej Pogačar finished second, helping reduce Jonas Vingegaard’s overall lead to six seconds.

“It means everything,” Del Toro said after securing his second Grand Tour stage win. “I’m very privileged. The whole team gave me a lot of confidence. I cannot believe I did it. It feels insane, especially for my country.”

“We made a plan for Tadej. I followed it, but then the gap got bigger and I just went with the flow to the finish line.”

Pogačar crossed the line alongside Del Toro and lifted the 22-year-old in celebration as UAE Team Emirates-XRG celebrated a dominant team performance.

Del Toro’s race nearly unraveled with around 60 kilometers remaining on the hilly route from Tarragona to Barcelona, when a mechanical problem forced him to stop by the roadside. A miscommunication over team radio left him waiting for a replacement bike, costing him valuable time.

However, once back on the road, Del Toro quickly regained momentum, needing just over 10 kilometers to recover much of his lost time. He later played a key role in UAE’s strategy across the three ascents of the Côte de Château de Montjuïc in the final phase of the stage.

POGAČAR AND UAE CONTROL THE FINAL CLIMBS

Brandon McNulty set the early pace for Pogačar on the first climb, as two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard stayed tucked behind his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Victor Campenaerts.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG increased the pressure on the second ascent, with Pogačar and three teammates driving the tempo. Vingegaard’s teammate Matteo Jorgenson attempted a late push and reached the summit just behind McNulty.

Inside the final 10 kilometers, Vingegaard positioned himself behind Jorgenson, while Pogačar stayed close on the Dane’s wheel in a tightly packed lead group.

As Jorgenson faded on the final climb, Adam Yates delivered the lead-out for Pogačar’s attack, but it was Del Toro who ultimately surprised the field with a well-timed acceleration to the finish.

“It was not an easy day. This circuit is not my favorite terrain, so I can be happy with keeping the yellow jersey. The team did a super job and really deserved the victory today,” Vingegaard said.

Del Toro added that the win carried special meaning as it came on the same day Mexico’s national football team competed in a World Cup Round of 16 match.

“We have these 11 guys giving everything in football, and to be at the same level here in France in the hardest race is like a dream,” he said.

Stage 3, a route from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles in France, will take place under restricted conditions, with officials confirming that spectator access will be closed due to a forest fire risk in the region. -Reporting by Vincent Daheron; Writing by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters