Isaac del Toro has signed a new long-term contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, committing his future to the team until the end of the 2031 season.
The Mexican has developed from an outstanding under-23 prospect into one of the leading young stage racers in the men’s peloton since joining UAE ahead of the 2024 season.
UAE announced the extension with the message: “Committed to our future,” using Del Toro’s familiar nickname, “Torito”.
The deal will keep Del Toro with the team throughout the central years of his career and confirms his position as one of the riders expected to shape UAE’s Grand Tour plans beyond its immediate focus on Tadej Pogačar.
Tour de France podium confirms Del Toro’s status
The extension follows Del Toro’s breakthrough ride at the 2026 Tour de France, where he finished third overall and won the white jersey as the best young rider.
Del Toro completed the podium behind Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, finishing 9:42 behind his teammate on his Tour debut. It was a performance that moved him beyond the status of a future contender. He had already become one of the strongest general classification riders in the race.
He also won Stage 2 in Barcelona, leading home a UAE one-two with Pogačar after the decisive move on the Montjuïc circuit.
Del Toro’s eventual podium place was secured through the final Alpine stages, where he resisted Paul Seixas in a close fight for both third overall and the young rider classification.
The Mexican entered the final mountain block under sustained pressure, with only seconds separating the pair before the decisive Alpe d’Huez and Col de Sarenne stages. That battle became one of the central stories of the final week and is examined in our Del Toro versus Seixas white jersey analysis.
Photo Credit: GettyMore than a support rider for Pogačar
Del Toro’s Tour demonstrated the unusual position he already occupies within UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
He remains capable of working for Pogačar, but is now too strong to be treated simply as another climbing domestique. UAE entered the Tour with what was arguably the deepest squad in the race, but Del Toro emerged as its clear second general classification rider.
Pogačar later sacrificed some of his own opportunities to help protect Del Toro’s podium position. That gave UAE two riders on the final podium and reinforced the collective strength outlined in our Tour de France 2026 team-by-team guide.
The challenge for UAE will be balancing those roles over the coming seasons.
Del Toro can continue supporting Pogačar at selected races, but his results now justify Grand Tour programmes built around his own ambitions. The Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España provide the clearest opportunities for sole leadership while Pogačar remains focused on the Tour.
A contract through 2031 gives the team time to manage that development without forcing an immediate transition.
UAE secure a long-term Grand Tour leader
Del Toro first attracted WorldTour attention by winning the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir before making an almost immediate impact at professional level.
His rise has since been rapid rather than gradual. He has shown the climbing ability required for Grand Tours, the acceleration to win difficult stages and the tactical confidence to attack rather than merely defend a classification position.
The 2026 Tour confirmed the scale of that potential. Del Toro won a stage, reached the podium and completed the race in white while riding alongside the dominant Tour rider of his generation.
His performance was one of the most important developments beyond Pogačar’s fifth victory, as explored in our analysis of the 2026 Tour de France in historical context.
By extending Del Toro through 2031, UAE have secured a rider who can contribute to their present success while potentially becoming the centre of their future Grand Tour project.
The question is no longer whether Del Toro can develop into a podium contender. He has already done that.
His next challenge is converting that position into a first Grand Tour victory, and UAE Team Emirates-XRG have ensured that attempt will be made in their colours.
