Del Toro Makes History
Isaac Del Toro Claims Historic Tour de France Stage Win in Barcelona for Mexico
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Key Points
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Stage 3 of the 2026 Tour de France is a 195.9-kilometre mountain stage, following the Barcelona finish, signaling a shift from the day’s punchy finish to a tougher ascent-focused profile.
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Del Toro moved up to fourth place in the general classification, sitting 16 seconds behind the leader after stage 2.
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Safety concerns from heat and wildfires across Europe put Stage 3 into question, with officials considering a cancellation or route adjustments for the Les Angles finish; a decision was expected by the end of the day.
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Brandon McNulty led the finale for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, taking charge to deter early attacks and help shape the finish on Montjuïc.
Isaac Del Toro made Tour de France history on Sunday, winning Stage 2 in Barcelona to become Mexico's first stage winner in 36 years. The 21-year-old UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider launched a late attack on the Montjuïc climb, beating his own teammate Tadej Pogačar to the line in a stunning debut performance, according to The Guardian.
Jonas Vingegaard kept the yellow jersey after the 169-kilometre stage from Tarragona. Pogačar's second-place finish earned him six bonus seconds, pulling him to just six seconds behind the overall leader. Remco Evenepoel finished third and rose to third in the general classification, 15 seconds back, per Sporting News.
Del Toro's Late Attack Seals a Historic Win
Del Toro's victory was far from routine. He overcame a mechanical problem earlier in the stage, then had to time his sprint perfectly on the final climb. He launched his move inside the last 700 metres on Montjuïc. Pogačar gave chase but could not get past his younger teammate, delivering UAE Team Emirates-XRG a one-two finish, according to Yahoo Sports.
Brandon McNulty played a key role in setting up the win. He led the UAE train into the final kilometres, controlling the pace and shutting down early attacks. That teamwork left Del Toro perfectly positioned to strike. The last Mexican to win a Tour stage was in 1990 — 36 years before Del Toro's debut ride, Le Monde reported.
Pogačar Closes Gap on Vingegaard in Overall Battle
The general classification is tightening fast. Vingegaard leads, but Pogačar is now just six seconds behind after picking up bonus seconds for his second-place finish. Evenepoel sits third at 15 seconds. Del Toro jumped to fourth overall, now 16 seconds off the pace, per Sporting News.
Pogačar's willingness to let Del Toro win raised eyebrows. He appeared to ease up rather than contest the sprint fully. That decision reflects UAE's depth and confidence — they can afford to reward a teammate's strong ride while still gaining ground on their main rivals, The Guardian noted.
Wildfires and Heat Put Stage 3 in Serious Doubt
The race may not go on as planned. Heat and wildfires spreading across Europe raised major safety concerns for Stage 3, a 195.9-kilometre mountain stage set to finish in Les Angles, France. Officials said a decision on whether to cancel or reroute the stage would come by the end of Sunday, according to Yahoo Sports.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme said the route could be changed if conditions demanded it. Local authorities were monitoring the fire situation closely. The shift from a punchy Barcelona finish to a full mountain stage makes any safety disruption even more significant for riders already tested by the early-race heat.
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