Isaac del Toro Defies Odds to Win Giro d’Italia Stage 17

Bormio, Italy – Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG captured Stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia on May 28, defying expectations of losing time. Del Toro, the current race leader, demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout a grueling 155-kilometer course from San Michele all’Adige to Bormio.

After coming off a challenging Stage 16, where he faced pressure from top competitors, Del Toro rallied back to secure his stage victory. ‘It’s incredible, everybody wants this, and today I realized I will never give up,’ Del Toro exclaimed after crossing the finish line. ‘I will always stay one step in front and always try it. I don’t have anything to lose,’ he added.

During the final kilometers, Del Toro managed to attack alone and establish a lead, finishing ahead of Romain Bardet, who took second, and Richard Carapaz, who placed third. Bardet crossed just three seconds behind Del Toro, and Carapaz trailed six seconds further. Meanwhile, Simon Yates, another major contender, was nine seconds behind Bardet.

With this performance, Del Toro pushed his overall lead on Carapaz to 41 seconds and widened the gap to Yates, who is now 51 seconds back. Derek Gee, riding for Israel-Premier Tech, remains in fourth place, 1:57 behind.

The victory restores confidence for Del Toro, who faced significant setbacks leading into the stage. ‘Today wasn’t easier than yesterday, but for sure I had a better mentality,’ he reflected, illustrating the mental game that comes with high-stakes racing.

As the Giro d’Italia progresses, the competition remains fierce, with three mountain stages still to come. Del Toro’s performance solidifies him as a significant contender as the race heads towards its conclusion in Rome.