Isaac del Toro, the 23-year-old from Baja California, has once again rewritten the record books for Mexican cycling. With his sixth-place finish in the individual time trial at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, he now holds the three best results Mexico has ever produced in the elite category. It's a feat that cements his place as the country's most accomplished rider in the sport's premier event.
Del Toro's consistency is remarkable. In every elite world championship appearance he's made, he has finished inside the top ten. That's a perfect record—three starts, three top-ten finishes. His debut came in 2025, when he surprised the peloton with a fifth-place time trial and followed it with a gritty seventh in the road race. Now, in 2026, he has added a sixth-place time trial to that list.
Numbers that speak for themselves
To put it in perspective: before Del Toro, no Mexican rider had ever cracked the top ten in an elite world championship event. Now, the top three spots on Mexico's all-time list belong to him. His time trial performance in Montreal came just 1:38 behind the winner, Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who claimed his fourth straight title in the discipline. That gap, against the world's best against the clock, shows just how far Del Toro has come.
His rise has been steady and impressive. After winning the under-23 title in 2024, he moved to the professional ranks with UAE Team Emirates and quickly made an impact. His victory at the Grand Prix de Montréal earlier this month—a smart, tactical sprint over Frenchman Paul Seixas—was his 33rd career win and a clear signal that he's peaking at the right time.
Mexican cycling is enjoying a golden era, and Del Toro is its brightest star. His success has inspired a new generation of riders back home, and his performances are drawing attention across the Americas. As he prepares for the road race on September 27, he carries the hopes of a nation that has never seen a world champion in this discipline.
Del Toro's climbing ability and explosive finishing power make him a genuine contender for the rainbow jersey. The course in Montreal suits his profile, and his recent form suggests he's ready to challenge the likes of Evenepoel and other favorites. A podium finish would be historic; a win would be monumental.
For now, the focus is on the road race. Del Toro has already made history, but he's not done yet. As he told reporters after the time trial, "I'm here to compete, not just to participate. The road race is my main goal, and I'll give everything I have."
His journey from Ensenada to the world stage is a testament to his talent and determination. And with each pedal stroke, he's not just racing for himself—he's racing for every Mexican who dreams of seeing their flag at the front of the world's biggest cycling events.
For more on Mexico's sporting moment, check out Julián Quiñones' Ballon d'Or nomination and The Warning's rise in rock.
