The fight for the Tour de France podium and the white jersey for the best young person is more alive than ever. The Mexican Isaac del Toro overcame one of the most demanding tests of the competition by maintaining third place in the general classification, despite the attack of the Frenchman Paul Seixas in the only individual time trial of the race.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG cyclist lost just five seconds compared to his direct rival, a result that allows him to maintain a lead of 20 seconds before the start of the three decisive Alpine stages, where a large part of the outcome of the French round will be defined.
Isaac del Toro overcomes a key time trial in the Tour de France
The watches were the protagonists on the shores of Lake Léman during the only individual time trial of the Tour de France, a day that focused attention on the confrontation between Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas, two of the most promising young people in international cycling.
The Mexican started the route strong and had a lead of three seconds during the ascent to the Larringes pass, a climb of 9.7 kilometers with an average slope of 4.3 percent.
However, the Frenchman responded in the second part of the climb and managed to equalize the duel before the dangerous descent towards the bike change to face the final stretch.
Paul Seixas reduces the gap, but Del Toro retains third place
The final part of the time trial maintained the tension until the finish line. Seixas managed to gain time on the descent and reached the final stretch with a three-second lead over Isaac del Toro, although the Mexican responded in the final kilometers to limit losses.
At the end of the day, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider gave up only five seconds, enough to retain third place in the general classification and the lead among the young riders by a margin of 20 seconds.
The day was also marked by the abandonment of the German Florian Lipowitz, who suffered a fall during the descent.
Isaac del Toro confident of maintaining the Tour de France podium
With the leadership practically on track for Tadej Pogacar, the Emirati team's objective is to place two of its riders on the final podium of the Tour de France, a scenario that it has already achieved in 2023.
“About the duel with Seixas the only thing I can say is that we try to increase the difference every day, but that as a whole we can be satisfied,” said the runner.
Isaac del Toro, who is competing in his first Tour de France after finishing second in last year's Giro d'Italia, also rated his performance positively after the accident suffered in the previous stage.
"After that scare and after a stage in which we had to take risks, I think the balance is positive. I can be happy, I'm going to sleep well," he said.
The alpine stages will decide the duel between Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas
The closing of the Tour de France promises an intense battle between Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas, two cyclists called to star in the future of the international peloton.
The director of the Decathlon team, Julien Jurdie, highlighted the level shown by his young rider, although he asked for caution ahead of the final week.
“He has had two very solid weeks, but what remains is the most difficult and ahead there are stages like Saturday's which is monstrous,” he said.
The French strategist made it clear that fighting for third place and the white jersey will not become an obsession.
"We are going to give our best as a team and try to move forward together. There is a lot of battle ahead," he stated.
For his part, Seixas recognized that his main rival is the Mexican and anticipated that he will continue to push until the end.
"Physically I feel solid. Every day is more of a mental battle, because every day we must fight. For me, fighting for the general classification is something new and it is not easy. For now I am enduring it well and I am happy with what I do," he said.
The Frenchman also acknowledged that he sees Isaac del Toro as “very strong” and promised to continue fighting in the fight for the podium and the white jersey of the Tour de France.
