Few cycling stories capture the essence of pure determination like that of Isaac Del Toro, Mexico Cycling Star. Behind the headlines of his impressive 2nd place finish at the 2025 Giro d’Italia lies a compelling narrative of health battles, financial struggles, and systemic challenges that would have derailed most cycling careers before they began. What makes Del Toro’s ascent so remarkable isn’t just his raw talent, but the obstacles he’s overcome along the way.
This young Mexican rider’s journey represents not only personal triumph but also highlights deep-rooted issues within his country’s cycling federation. From health complications to alleged corruption, Del Toro’s story provides a window into what it takes to succeed in professional cycling without the support systems many of his competitors take for granted.
Isaac Del Toro: The stats
Born November 27, 2003, Isaac Del Toro has rapidly established himself as one of cycling’s most promising talents. The young Mexican, now riding for UAE Team Emirates, has defied expectations with his climbing prowess and tactical maturity. His breakthrough performance at the 2025 Giro d’Italia, finishing second overall, announced his arrival among cycling’s elite climbers.
What makes these accomplishments even more impressive is the context in which they’ve been achieved – with minimal institutional support and while managing significant health challenges throughout his development years.
Del Toro’s health challenges: The inside scoop
Osteoporosis and tumors
According to José Del Toro, Isaac’s father, the young rider battled osteoporosis for several years during his development – a shocking revelation considering the condition’s rarity in young men. More concerning still was the presence of tumors, including what was described as a gap in his jaw. These weren’t minor setbacks but serious medical conditions requiring consistent management and treatment.
For a developing cyclist, these health challenges represent a double burden: the physical limitations they impose and the mental fortitude required to continue pursuing elite-level performance while managing pain and uncertainty.
Financial strain
The Del Toro family shouldered substantial financial burdens to keep Isaac’s career on track. Medical expenses for medications, supplements, and regular doctor visits created significant strain, particularly without institutional support to offset these costs.
This financial pressure represents a hidden aspect of Del Toro’s journey – one where his family’s sacrifice and determination played a crucial role in his eventual success, covering expenses that would typically be handled by national cycling programs in better-supported cycling nations.
Mexican cycling federation: The corruption allegations
UCI non-recognition
Perhaps the most damning indictment of Mexican cycling governance is the UCI’s non-recognition of the current federation due to alleged corruption. This unusual situation has real consequences for riders like Del Toro, including preventing them from wearing official national champion jerseys – symbols of pride and achievement for most cyclists representing their countries.
This lack of legitimacy on the international stage represents more than a symbolic loss; it indicates a governance structure that has fallen short of basic standards for transparency and proper administration.
Lack of support & funding
José Del Toro has been vocal about the federation’s failure to provide even basic support. He claims Mexican cyclists typically cover their own travel expenses, entry fees, and equipment costs – expenses that national federations in most countries would at least partially subsidize for promising talents.
This absence of financial backing forces Mexican riders to seek alternative funding sources or, in many cases, abandon their potential careers before they truly begin.
Licensing issues
According to José Del Toro, Mexico uniquely requires cyclists to purchase new license numbers annually, rather than maintaining consistent identifiers throughout their careers. This practice not only creates additional financial burden but also impedes the UCI’s ability to track riders’ full career trajectories – a system that José suggests serves the federation’s financial interests rather than the sport’s.
José Del Toro’s perspective: Straight from the source
Lack of viaticum, passage, or registration payment
“Siempre hablan de cantidades gigantescas de millones y millones pero yo no conozco a un ciclista que le paguen los viáticos, el pasaje o la inscripción. Yo batallé tanto con mis hijos y jamás recibí una ayuda de ningún tipo,” José Del Toro stated in a June 2025 interview with reporter Katy Lopez.
This statement (which translates to “They always talk about gigantic amounts of millions and millions but I don’t know a cyclist who gets paid for expenses, passage or registration. I struggled so much with my sons and never received any help of any kind”) directly contradicts claims about robust financial support for cycling development in Mexico.
Selling license numbers annually
José highlighted another unusual practice: “México es el único país donde te venden cada año tu número de licencia. En todo el mundo tu número de licencia es para toda la vida, así la UCI conoce toda tu trayectoria y por eso en la UCI no saben nada de los ciclistas mexicanos.”
This practice of selling new license numbers annually not only creates additional expenses for riders but also disrupts the continuity of career tracking that helps identify and develop talent.
CONADE’s claimed support
José expressed particular frustration with claims from Mexico’s National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE) that Isaac was a product of their Olympic development program. According to his father, Isaac received no support whatsoever from this organization, making their attempts to claim credit for his success especially galling.
Timeline of key events: The play-by-play
Isaac’s journey from talented young rider to Giro d’Italia podium finisher encompasses years of challenges and breakthroughs. From his early battles with health issues to his impressive Del Toro’s Giro Stage 17 win, each milestone represents another obstacle overcome.
His narrow miss of the overall victory, ultimately finishing second to Simon Yates’ Giro d’Italia win, demonstrated both his immense potential and the tactical learning curve he continues to navigate at the highest levels of the sport.
Visuals for a feature article: Setting the scene
A comprehensive visual portrait of Del Toro’s journey would include images tracking his progression from local Mexican races to WorldTour competition, highlighting the contrast between his humble beginnings and current success. Side-by-side comparisons of the support structures available to riders from cycling powerhouse nations versus the self-sufficient approach forced upon Mexican talents would further illustrate the remarkable nature of his achievements.
Infographics detailing the financial investments required from his family compared to typical federation support in other countries would help quantify the additional barriers Mexican cyclists must overcome.
Corroborating sources: Checking the tape
Multiple sources support the claims about Del Toro’s challenging path, including Katy Lopez’s detailed reporting on José Del Toro’s experiences, statements from CyclingUpToDate.com, and social media posts from established cycling news platforms. While official statements from the Mexican Cycling Federation about these specific allegations appear limited, the UCI’s non-recognition of the federation lends credibility to claims of governance issues.
As Isaac Del Toro continues his promising career with UAE Team Emirates, his story stands as both inspiration and indictment – showcasing extraordinary individual determination while highlighting systemic failures that prevent many other talented Mexican cyclists from reaching their potential on the world stage.
