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UAE team XRG shines in Giro d'Italia
Sharjah 24: UAE Team XRG has continued to impress at the 2025 Giro d'Italia, with standout performances that have solidified their dominance in the race.
Isaac Del Toro retains pink jersey for fourth day
Rising star Isaac Del Toro retained the coveted pink jersey for the fourth consecutive day after a strong third-place finish in Stage 13, which concluded in Vicenza. The 20-year-old Mexican rider remains at the top of the general classification.
Tactical excellence and team support pay off
Del Toro's lead was preserved through a well-executed tactical plan and strong support from his teammates. His consistent performance allowed him to hold a 38-second advantage over his closest rival—who is also his teammate—Juan Ayuso.
Team Emirates secures top two positions
Team Emirates (UAE Team XRG) now holds both first and second places in the overall standings. Ayuso's strategic gain of precious seconds at the intermediate checkpoint further strengthened the team's position. Antonio Tiberi of Team Bahrain Victorious currently trails in third place, 1 minute and 18 seconds behind.
Mountain stages ahead: Continued dominance expected
As the race heads into its decisive mountain stages, UAE Team XRG is well-positioned to extend its dominance. With momentum and morale high, the team edges closer to a potential major triumph in this year's Giro.
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Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Pogacar to lead Team Emirates-XRG charge at Criterium du Dauphine
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have announced their rider selection for the upcoming Criterium du Dauphine, taking place from June 9–15. The race will serve as a crucial test ahead of the Tour de France, with Tadej Pogacar set to lead a strong and versatile squad through the week-long race in the French Alps. Pogacar returns to competition after a high-altitude training camp with his teammates and a commanding spring campaign, which included seven victories. The Dauphine will mark a key step in his build-up to July. Pogacar said: 'We've just come off a really solid block of altitude training with the team and I'm feeling good. The legs are there, and the motivation is high. It's been a few years since I've been to the Dauphine, and we're excited to be there and racing again after many weeks of training all together. 'We have a very good ambience in the group, and we're ready to pin on race numbers and show what we can do.' The seven-man squad will be guided by Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo), Marco Marcato (Ita) and Marco Marzano (Ita). The team brings a balanced line-up of climbing specialists, experienced domestiques, and all-rounders to support Pogacar across the race's demanding terrain. Meanwhile, on stage 3 of the Tour of Slovenia, Sebastian Molano sprinted to second place for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, narrowly missing out on the day's victory to Dylan Groenewegen of Jayco AlUla. The Colombian launched his sprint with 300m to go, but ultimately came up just short in the uphill kick to the line. Earlier in the stage, Antanio Morgado and Rune Herregodts had kept their leaders safe and out of trouble, as the sun lashed the peloton with a searing heat. With bottles of water aplenty, the peloton went about its business from Majsperk to Ormoz, showing little concern for the threat that came from out front. Initially numbering six riders, the day's breakaway was best represented by Nejc Komac (Factory Racing) in the finale. The Slovene youngster made a daring bid to ride alone to the finish, but was ultimately caught inside the final 3km. It was a fine effort from Komac, who came close to pulling off an unlikely victory. With the breakaway mopped up, UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Rui and Ivo Oliveira piloted Molano towards the front of the bunch, and it was the 30-year-old who opened up his sprint first. Hitting the front with a little over 300m to ride, Molano delivered a great turn of speed and initially looked to have enough to hang on. However, it was Groenewegen who benefited from a slightly later launch, riding his way to a second stage victory of the week. Behind the fireworks, Felix Großschartner remained out of danger and cruised over the line, putting himself into a handy position heading into Saturday's summit finish. The Austrian sits in fifth place overall and will hope to stretch his legs over the weekend. Molano: 'It was really close today. In the end, I did not see Ivo preparing his lead-out on the right-hand side of the road, and this is why I launched a little early. The finish was a bit uphill and with such a long kick, it was hard to hold on. 'It's a shame not to get the victory because I know how close I am. Groenewegen is strong but today I had the legs. With some better luck, it was ours. Anyway, we have two more opportunities to chase the victory, so we will give it everything,' he added. Tour of Slovenia has been become a happy hunting ground for UAE Team Emirates-XRG in recent years, showcasing their strength and consistency on the international stage. The team's impressive run began in 2019, when the experienced Italian rider Diego Ulissi powered to victory with a tactically brilliant performance. Building on that success, the spotlight then shifted to Slovenian superstar Pogacar, who thrilled fans by winning his home race in both 2021 and 2022.
Dubai Eye
6 days ago
- Dubai Eye
Team Emirates-XRG makes history at Giro d'Italia
Crossing the finish line in Rome amongst the peloton, Isaac del Toro brought the 2025 Giro d'Italia to a historic close for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG - placing second overall on his debut. The Mexican cyclist becomes the second-youngest podium finisher in race history and the first from his country to ever win the young rider's classification. In fact, Del Toro is the first Mexican to ever wear the Maglia Bianca, adding this to a long list of accomplishments he has achieved over the last three weeks. It has been a stellar race for both the 21-year-old and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates, all of whom took to the podium in Rome to celebrate winning the team classification. The Emirati squad end the first Grand Tour of the season with two memorable stage victories, taken by Juan Ayuso and Del Toro. The first, won by Ayuso on stage 7, saw the Spaniard triumph on the race's first summit finish, with his Mexican teammate crossing the line in second. It was a maiden Grand Tour stage victory for Ayuso, with Del Toro following suit in the third week. Through the next 11 days of racing, Del Toro came of age on the grandest stage, riding with a maturity beyond his years to have Mexico dreaming of its first Grand Tour success. In surpassing Fausto Coppi's record from the 1940 Giro d'Italia, Del Toro became the youngest rider in history to wear the Maglia Rosa for 11 consecutive stages. Ending the race with Del Toro on the podium, Brandon McNulty in 9th, victory in the team classification and a credible 7th place for Filippo Baroncini on stage 21, UAE Team Emirates-XRG can be proud of everything it has achieved between the Grande Partenza in Albania and Sunday's final stage in Rome.
The National
01-06-2025
- The National
UAE Team Emirates rider Isaac del Toro 'proud and happy' despite Giro d'Italia disappointment
UAE Team Emirates-EXG rider Isaac del Toro insisted he is proud of his efforts at the Giro d'Italia despite being beaten to the title by British rider Simon Yates. The Mexican went into Saturday's penultimate Stage 20 in pole position to become UAE Team Emirates second consecutive winner of the Grand Tour race, following in the slipstream of Tadej Pogacar last year. But Briton's Simon Yates, who started the day third in the general classification 81 seconds behind the leader, produced a magnificent ride on the Colle delle Finestre – the highest point of this year's race – to overhaul second-place Richard Carapaz and Del Toro in the standings. The Visma-Lease A Bike rider finished the stage almost four minutes clear of Del Toro with the Giro crown all but in the bag going into Sunday's ceremonial finale around Rome. Del Toro had snatched the overall lead on Stage 9 when he took charge of the pink jersey which he kept a tight hold on for 10 more stages. But it was not to be for the 21-year-old who came agonisingly close to victory in what was only his second Grand Tour race after last year's Vuelta a Espagna. 'Obviously I am super happy to finish second, I need to be mature with this and, of course, a lot of people are surprised that I can be at this level now,' said Del Toro, whose victory on Stage 17 was his first on a Grand Tour. 'For my team, it's not a big surprise, it's just a question of time. I want to believe it, this is the main problem for me personally, but this week I show I can be a top rider and top contender and I cannot be more proud and happy, to be honest. 'For sure it's always disappointing to lose the leader's jersey, but actually as a team we cannot be more together and more happy about the performance that we did. We cannot manage a victory, but … it's cycling and that's why we love it. 'I was close, and this is a thing, but at the end I didn't win,' added Del Toro. 'I will just keep working and I will come back for sure. 'You need to be a great winner, you need to be a great loser, and I think I am a good loser, and chapeau for them. Congrats.' It was a story of redemption for Yates as he sobbed uncontrollably after crossing the finish lines in third place behind stage winner Chris Harper and second place Alessandro Verre. At the 2018 Giro, Yates was wearing the pink jersey on the penultimate mountain stage only to see his lead snuffed out by countryman Chris Froome on the Colle delle Finestre. Yates would end the day down in 18th place, nearly 36 minutes behind soon-to-be champion Froome with one competitive stage to go. 'When the route was released I always had in the back of my mind to try to do something here and close the chapter, let's say,' said Yates on Saturday. 'I maybe look relaxed but I also had doubts this morning, if I could really do something, but the guys they encouraged me and believed in me, so yeah, thanks to them.' As for Del Toro, he remained upbeat after what has been a breakthrough performance from a young rider. 'My disappointment is split 50-50, half for me and half for the team. They deserved the win,' he said. 'I'm happy in one sense becaus e I showed that I can compete in a Grand Tour and that I'm not lacking anything. Few people thought I could do what I've done before this Giro. I had the legs to win a Grand Tour, I went close to victory. 'I respect the big riders but if I look at all my performances in this Giro, I can start to think I can win a Grand Tour. 'I'll sleep well tonight because I've matured and I've realised that this is also cycling. I'm not smiling because I'm second. But it's still a great result.'
