Isaac del Toro Extends Lead in Giro d’Italia with Strong Performance

Champoluc, Italy – Isaac del Toro of Mexico strengthened his lead in the Giro d'Italia after a strong performance on stage 19, where he finished second behind Nicolas Prodhomme. The race took place on Friday, May 28, 2025, as the riders faced a challenging 166-kilometer route from Biella to Champoluc.

Prodhomme, riding for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, achieved his first Grand Tour stage victory by breaking away in the final kilometers. He finished the stage with a time of 4 hours, 50 minutes, and 35 seconds, nearly a minute ahead of del Toro, who completed the stage in +58 seconds.

Del Toro’s second-place finish allowed him to gain crucial seconds over his closest rival, Richard Carapaz of Ecuador, increasing his overall lead to 43 seconds. Carapaz finished third, matching del Toro’s time, while Britain’s Simon Yates dropped back, now 1 minute and 21 seconds behind overall.

As the race approaches the decision-making stages, del Toro faces tough competition in the upcoming stage 20, which features a steep 20-kilometer climb up the Colle delle Finestre. The final stage on Sunday is set to conclude in Rome, where tradition preserves the lead for the winner.

“I had the legs to be with Richard … I cannot take more risks but today was incredible,” del Toro said after finishing the stage. “Everyone in our country is starting to see how hard cycling is. It’s just incredible … I can’t believe I’m the guy representing the country!”

Prodhomme celebrated his victory, stating, “I’ve worked a lot for this Giro d’Italia… but to win at the Giro d’Italia makes me very happy. It’s a beautiful day.” His successful solo effort has marked a significant achievement in his career.

While Yates was frustrated with his seventh-place finish, team director Marc Reef defended the strategy employed during the stage, indicating the team executed their plan effectively, despite Yates losing valuable seconds. “The day went exactly as we agreed,” Reef stated.

With only two stages remaining, the pressure is on del Toro as he strives to become the youngest winner of the Giro since 1940. The competition intensifies and attention shifts to Saturday’s crucial stage as riders push for the maglia rosa.