Historic Mexican Tour Win
Del Toro Secures Historic Tour de France Victory at Montjuic, Becomes Second Mexican Winner
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Isaac Del Toro won Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France on Sunday, climbing to victory atop Montjuïc in Barcelona. Marca reported that the 21-year-old Mexican rider becomes only the second Mexican cyclist ever to win a stage at the Tour de France, following Raúl Alcalá.
The result was a direct team answer to Jonas Vingegaard's Stage 1 win the day before. UAE Team Emirates-XRG put on a dominant display, with Tadej Pogačar crossing the line in second place — gifting the win to his young teammate rather than taking it for himself.
How Del Toro Pulled Off the Historic Win
Del Toro launched the sprint himself — not to win for himself, but to lead out Pogačar. When Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel failed to respond, Del Toro simply kept going. OKDiario reported that neither Vingegaard nor Evenepoel could close the gap, leaving the young Mexican free to take the stage.
AS called it a historic finish for two reasons: Del Toro's breakthrough win, and Pogačar's rare decision to put a teammate first. The Spanish outlet noted that for years Pogačar has been known for never leaving scraps for rivals — making Sunday's gesture all the more striking.
UAE Team Emirates Flexes Muscle Over Rivals
Europa Press described the stage result as a show of force by UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The team controlled the final climb up Montjuïc and dictated the pace when it mattered most, leaving Vingegaard isolated and unable to match their firepower.
Vingegaard still leads the general classification after his Stage 1 victory. But Sunday's result sent a clear message: UAE has the depth and numbers to win even when Pogačar does not take the glory himself. That kind of team strength is rare at this level of racing.
A Mexican Milestone Years in the Making
Del Toro is only 21 years old and was riding his debut Tour de France. Marca noted that the last Mexican to win a Tour stage was Raúl Alcalá, making Del Toro's achievement a generational moment for cycling in Mexico.
Velo reported that the win came on Tour debut — a feat that underlines just how fast Del Toro has developed. He joined UAE as one of the sport's brightest prospects, and Stage 2 on Montjuïc confirmed that billing in front of a packed Barcelona crowd.
What Sunday's Stage Means for the Race Ahead
Vingegaard holds the yellow jersey, but the gap between him and Pogačar is slim. OKDiario noted that with UAE already showing it can win stages through multiple riders, Vingegaard's Visma team faces a major numbers problem in the days ahead.
The Tour now leaves Barcelona and heads deeper into France. UAE has made its intentions clear: they came to dominate, not just to protect Pogačar. Del Toro's win is a warning shot — and the race has barely begun.
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