Isaac del Toro delivered a commanding performance on stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia, seizing victory with a perfectly executed late attack that left rivals Romain Bardet and Richard Carapaz trailing in his wake. The Mexican rider, wearing the maglia rosa, extended his overall lead with a well-earned stage win his first in this year’s race further cementing his position as the rider to beat in the battle for the pink jersey.
The 155km stage from San Michele all’Adige to Bormio, while less brutal than the leg-breaking route of stage 16, still offered no respite for the peloton. Riders faced two formidable climbs Passo del Tonale and the infamous Passo del Mortirolo racking up an exhausting 3,800 metres of elevation. Despite the relentless gradients and thin mountain air, Del Toro stayed composed, calculating his move with clinical precision.
In the final moments of the stage, with just over two kilometres remaining, Del Toro surged away from Bardet and Carapaz, the last two riders capable of matching his pace on the day. Bardet crossed the finish line three seconds behind, with Carapaz a few lengths further back. It was a powerful show of strength and tactical intelligence from the 21-year-old Mexican, who is quickly becoming one of the standout stars of this year’s Giro.
Speaking after the race, Del Toro expressed pride in his performance and gratitude to his team. “I imagined I could win a stage with the maglia rosa. The Giro has been very good so far. The fight for the podium is incredible. Today I realised that I will never give up. I will always try to win. I have nothing to lose.”
He went on to explain how the team’s strategy played out perfectly. “It wasn’t any easier today than yesterday. With the team, we expected some attacks to take place on the Mortirolo. We didn’t want to let all the GC riders go. I went across to them and I took it easy a bit. I caught them in the descent. We had made this plan with the team that I would attack on the last small climb.”
The team’s well-timed tactics and Del Toro’s resilient spirit proved decisive, especially after the punishing series of mountain stages that have shaped the general classification. While many of his competitors showed signs of fatigue, Del Toro looked increasingly confident and controlled. His acceleration on the final rise was a show of pure class and power.
With the general classification tightening and the mountains behind them, the peloton will now face a change of pace. Thursday’s stage 18 presents a flatter profile a 144km route from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno. It offers an opportunity for the sprinters to reassert themselves, while the overall contenders will look to recover after the Alps.
Del Toro’s victory not only boosts his lead but also sends a strong message to his rivals: he is not merely defending the maglia rosa he’s actively racing for it. With the final stages approaching, his confidence, determination, and teamwork are placing him in prime position to carry the pink jersey all the way to Rome.
