Tadej Pogačar may not be participating in the 2025 Giro d’Italia—an event he dominated last year—but he’s closely following the action from afar. The reigning World Champion is proud of how his UAE Team Emirates – XRG teammates are performing, having recently congratulated Juan Ayuso on a stage win and now praising Isaac del Toro for taking over the maglia rosa.
Pogačar posted a photo on his personal Instagram, showing him enjoying breakfast with Del Toro—Pogačar sipping coffee and Del Toro biting into a croissant—with the caption: “Looking to the future, enjoy the maglia rosa.”
A heartfelt compliment from the world’s top rider to the emerging Mexican talent. It also leaves some to wonder how Ayuso feels about the spotlight shifting slightly.
The gravel stage yesterday proved to be a standout moment in the Giro’s first week, with Del Toro finishing second behind Wout van Aert in Siena’s Piazza del Campo. The result elevated him to race leader, holding a 1:13 lead over Ayuso, 1:30 over Antonio Tiberi, 1:40 over Richard Carapaz, and 2:25 over tenth-placed Primož Roglič. These are unforgettable days for the young Del Toro.
Meanwhile, Pogačar is training in Sierra Nevada at an altitude camp as he prepares for his next major goal—the Tour de France. Whether he also competes in the Vuelta a España later this year remains to be seen, as he eyes a potential Grand Tour triple crown. So far, 2025 has been an impressive season for him, with victories in several races including two more Monument titles: the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
