Latest news with #UAETeamEmirates-XRG
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Isaac Del Toro sprints clear on stage 17 to extend Giro d'Italia lead
Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG maintained his excellent form at the Giro d'Italia to win stage 17 with a perfectly-timed sprint, with the Mexican's first stage victory of the race allowing him to extend his lead in the overall standings. The 155-km route from San Michele all'Adige to Bormio was less punishing than Tuesday's stage 16, but featured two difficult climbs - Passo del Tonale and Passo del Mortirolo - with a total of 3,800m of elevation. Del Toro was the freshest man at the end of the final ascent and he broke away from Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) and rival Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) with just over 2km left. Bardet crossed the line four seconds after Del Toro, with Carapaz in third. Tyrone's Darren Rafferty (EF Education-Easypost) crossed the line over 35 minutes after Del Toro, a minute ahead of compatriot Sam Bennett. Rafferty drops half a dozen places in the general classification to 86th, while Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) is 147th overall. Del Toro's spectacular effort breathed new life into his bid to win a first Grand Tour and assuaged any doubts that arose after the pink jersey holder saw his lead shrink in a chaotic stage 16 on Tuesday. "I imagined that I could win a stage with the maglia rosa. The Giro has been very good so far," the 21-year-old said after his win. "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. 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." Del Toro, who became only the second Mexican to win a stage at the Giro d'Italia after Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio in 2001 and 2002, now has a 41-second lead in the general classification. Ecuadorean Carapaz leapfrogged Simon Yates (Visma–Lease a Bike) into second place, with the Briton finishing the stage in fourth place, 15 seconds behind Del Toro. Earlier on Wednesday, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) and stage-eight winner Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) both abandoned the Giro.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Del Toro claims stage 17 win and extends Giro lead
Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 17 - San Michele all'Adige to Bormio - Italy - May 28, 2025 UAE Team Emirates's Isaac Del Toro celebrates as he crosses the finish line after stage 17 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 17 - San Michele all'Adige to Bormio - Italy - May 28, 2025 UAE Team Emirates's Isaac Del Toro celebrates as he crosses the finish line after stage 17 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini Cycling - Giro d'Italia - Stage 17 - San Michele all'Adige to Bormio - Italy - May 28, 2025 UAE Team Emirates's Isaac Del Toro celebrates as he crosses the finish line after stage 17 REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG maintained his excellent form at the Giro d'Italia to win stage 17 with a perfectly-timed sprint on Wednesday, with the Mexican's first stage victory of the race allowing him to extend his lead in the overall standings. The 155-km route from San Michele all'Adige to Bormio was less punishing than Tuesday's stage 16, but featured two difficult climbs -- Passo del Tonale and Passo del Mortirolo -- with a total of 3,800 metres of elevation. Del Toro was the freshest man at the end of the final ascent and he broke away from Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) and rival Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) with just over two km left. Bardet crossed the line four seconds after Del Toro, with Carapaz in third. Del Toro's spectacular effort breathed new life into his bid to win a first Grand Tour and assuaged any doubts that arose after the pink jersey holder saw his lead shrink in a chaotic stage 16 on Tuesday. "I imagined that I could win a stage with the maglia rosa. The Giro has been very good so far," the 21-year-old said after his win. "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. 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." Del Toro, who became only the second Mexican to win a stage at the Giro d'Italia after Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio in 2001 and 2002, now has a 41-second lead in the general classification. Ecuadorean Carapaz leapfrogged Simon Yates (Visma–Lease a Bike) into second place, with the Briton finishing the stage in fourth place, 15 seconds behind Del Toro. Earlier on Wednesday, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) and stage-eight winner Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) both abandoned the Giro. After a string of mountainous stages, Thursday's stage 18 will be a largely flat 144-km ride from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Van Aert battles to win Giro stage nine, Del Toro takes leader's jersey
Belgian Wout Van Aert battled to victory on stage nine of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, holding off Mexican Isaac del Toro who moved into the overall lead after the pair went for broke and stole a march on the rest of the field. Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), riding his first Giro, used all his Strade Bianche experience to outsmart Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), with Italy's Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) coming in third. Pre-race favourite Primoz Roglic (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) was involved in a crash and also suffered a puncture to lose valuable time in the general classification, dropping to 10th overall, two minutes and 25 seconds behind Del Toro. The stage, a 181 kilometre ride from Gubbio to Siena, saw the first major shake-up of this year's Giro in the race for the pink jersey, with the gravel sectors usually seen in the Strade Bianche one-day race suiting Van Aert best. "This victory means a lot to me, I almost cannot explain it," Van Aert said. "It had to be here I believe, because this place is where my road career started back in 2018." Van Aert finished third in the 2018 Strade Bianche and again the following year before tasting victory in 2020, and the 30-year-old Giro debutant made his experience count on a day when others faltered. The Belgian was part of a chasing group which hunted down an earlier breakaway, and alongside Del Toro was able to shake off the likes of Egan Bernal with 15km to go, and the pair then fought for the stage win themselves. There was plenty of action behind, with Roglic going down in the peloton in a crash which also claimed one of the stage favourites Tom Pidcock, and both riders suffered punctures to put them well out of contention. Del Toro came into the final kilometre with the pink jersey already secured, as race leader Diego Ulissi (XDS-Astana) had been dropped by the peloton early in the stage, and the Mexican looked to have the legs to take the stage win too. Van Aert, however, had let the Mexican do most of the work in the closing stages and found another gear coming into the final 400 metres on the narrow streets of Siena to overtake Del Toro, and despite a wobble on the final bend, claim victory. "I had to fight all the way to the top through the streets of Siena," Van Aert said. "And because I know the final pretty well I needed to do the move in the last three corners. I almost missed the last one but the experience of Strade Bianche helped me win today." Del Toro holds a comfortable one minute and 13 second lead over Spain's Juan Ayuso going into Monday's rest day, with Antonio Tiberi third overall, a further 17 seconds back. Tuesday's stage 10 is a 28.6km individual time trial from Lucca to Pisa.
Gulf Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Holders UAE Team Emirates-XRG begin Giro d'Italia title defence
As UAE Team Emirates-XRG gear up for the 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia, the anticipation and excitement is palpable across the world of cycling on the eve of the first Grand Tour of the season. Known for its punishing climbs and picturesque scenery, the Giro offers a valuable opportunity for riders to test themselves on one of cycling's toughest stages. With the majestic landscapes of Italy once again setting the stage, all eyes now turn to Juan Ayuso, the rising star of Spanish cycling, who enters the race as one of the standout favourites. Ayuso arrives at the start line in red-hot form, having lit up the early season with a string of commanding performances. His crowning moment came at Tirreno-Adriatico, where he sealed the general classification convincingly - a victory that has only fueled his hunger heading into the biggest challenge of his young career. With his sights firmly set on the Maglia Rosa, Ayuso is more than ready for the three-week battle that lies ahead. Ayuso: 'It's been an amazing start to the season. I've found a good rhythm and, for the first time in my career, I haven't had any setbacks. I love racing in Italy - it's a country that feels like home, and I've had some of my best results here. Now I'm just really excited to get to the start line. Training camp went perfectly, and I'm ready to test myself at one of the most beautiful races on the calendar!' Joining Ayuso as a co-leader within the team will be Adam Yates. A strong contender in his own right, Yates will bring a calm and experienced presence in the high mountains, with a proven track record in Grand Tour racing. Supporting Ayuso and Yates will be a well-rounded and reliable UAE Team Emirates-XRG line-up - a team crafted to provide a blend of experience, climbing prowess, and all-round strength. Jay Vine and Isaac Del Toro, both showing strong early season legs, will be key to controlling the tempo on the climbs, creating the launchpad for Ayuso and Yates to make their pivotal moves. The ever-dependable Rafal Majka brings a wealth of Grand Tour wisdom, while young Spaniard Igor Arrieta and the versatile Brandon McNulty will be ready to grind it out across all terrains. But as always, glory at the first Grand Tour of the year will not come easy. The general classification battle is stacked with threats from across the peloton. Primoz Roglic, a five-time Grand Tour champion and former Maglia Rosa winner, returns to regain his crown and repeat his heroics of 2023. Also entering the fray is Egan Bernal of INEOS Grenadiers - a previous Giro d'Italia and Tour de France winner hungry to rediscover his best form on Italian soil. With a strong team behind him, the Colombian is one to watch across the three weeks of racing. Veteran Spanish climber Mikel Landa will also be looking to fight for the general classification win. Stepping into the leadership role for Soudal-Quick-Step in the absence of Remco Evenepoel, Landa has shown excellent form this season and will be looking to build on two top 10 GC finishes already in 2025. Across 3,413KM of relentless terrain, the Giro d'Italia will serve up five mountain stages, eight hilly tests, six sprint stages, and two-time trials - with plenty of opportunities to shape the race. The fight for pink starts early with a punchy finish on Stage 1 that will keep every GC hopeful alert, while stage 2's short, explosive time trail will offer Ayuso a chance to lay down a marker. The first real uphill finishes arrive on Stages 5 and 7, where the race favourites will begin to show their hands. It's a brutal opening week - not decisive, but dangerous - and for those eyeing the Maglia Rosa, there's no room for error. With the road to Rome paved in challenge and opportunity, Juan Ayuso steps into the spotlight. At just 22, he carries both form and momentum into the Giro, poised not just to compete - but to contend. Backed by a powerful UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad, Ayuso's campaign marks the beginning of the team's Grand Tour ambitions, with the Maglia Rosa firmly in sight.
The National
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Juan Ayuso proud to be leading UAE Team Emirates attack at Giro d'Italia in absence of Tadej Pogacar
Juan Ayuso says he is excited to be leading the UAE Team Emirates-XRG attack at next week's Giro d'Italia in the absence of talismanic teammate Tadej Pogacar. The Spaniard, 22, is widely regarded as one of the leading contenders for the Giro in what will be his debut in the three-week Grand Tour race that runs from May 9 to June 1. Last year, Pogacar secured the Giro title in what was his debut in the race and would go on to complete a historic triple crown by also securing victory in the Tour de France and World Championship. UAE Emirates-XRG team principal Mauro Gianetti revealed in February that Pogacar would not be defending his Giro title this year, with the Slovenian superstar focusing retaining the Tour de France and possibly targeting his first Vuelta a Espana crown. The pre-race favourite in Italy this year will be Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe rider Primroz Roglic, 35, a four-time Vuelta winner, Giro champion and an eight-time GT podium finisher. Ayuso, though, is expected to challenge the experienced Roglic with the 22-year-old having twice finished in the top four of the Vuelta and has proved to be one of the best one-week racers in the peloton since joining the World Tour in 2022. Whether he can translate that into an elite three-week performance which can upset Roglic remains to be seen. Ayuso heads into the race on the back of a first victory in the Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as triumphing in the La Drome Classic, Trofeo Laiguelia and finishing second overall in the Volta a Catalunya this year. 'I'm really excited, and no, it cannot be any other way,' Ayuso said in a virtual media day Zoom meeting. 'It's the only Grand Tour I still haven't raced. I've raced many times the World Tour, last year I raced the Tour, and I still have to discover the Giro. 'When you go to a new race, and especially that new race being your whole objective, it is a boost of motivation. 'I mean, I'm just super excited. There's a lot of emotion going into it now, because as I say, it's a race I still have to discover. 'From what they've told me, it's one of the most beautiful races on the calendar. So, of course, when we finish the Giro and we have another interview, I could tell you how it went. 'But from now on, I'm just super motivated to get to next week and be there in Albany.' As far as preparation for the upcoming race, Ayuso is delighted with how things have gone. 'The training camp has been perfect with the support of the team,' he said. 'We have here a lot of awesome members of staff, we have nearly double the staff as riders here and it helps a lot and it helps you really to concentrate, to focus on what's important. 'Up to now, as I speak not only for myself but also for my teammates, we've had no issues and we've been training really well all together, so, I think yeah, we have a really, really strong team and every day we keep on motivating ourselves. 'At the same time you're training and you're getting better, you see also your teammates that are on a super good level and we're all really convinced that we have a really good chance of doing a great Giro d'Italia.' With Pogacar and two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard both skipping the Giro, this year's race appears to have opened up for a host of contenders to challenge for the title. But while the likes of 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Michael Storer (Tudor), and Ayuso's teammate Adam Yates will provide stern opposition, Ayuso still believes Roglic is the man to beat. 'For me, he's the biggest favourite,' he said. 'He's the rider that has won many Grand Tours already. I've never won it, so I think the pressure's on him. And as I say, we as a team, we go with the motivation that we think it's possible, but there's not that extra pressure. 'My level has gone up and it's the year I have been closest to him. I've never beaten him until this year in Catalunya where I got him in the stage at the end. We lost the GC but it was down to a very thin margin and I think in three weeks I hope it's different.' Ayuso's boss Gianetti, meanwhile, hailed his rider's progress since joining the team in the summer of 2021. 'He's immensely talented and has shown improvement every passing year,' said the Swiss of Ayuso. 'We know the Giro is a very hard race, a lot of contentment, a lot of knowledge, but we know for Juan it is possible. 'This is why at the Giro we create a strong team to support him in any kind of stages, mountain stages, flood stages, the time trial will be a lot but we know he is a special. 'We believe strongly in the possibility to win the Giro but at the same time we will not charge the responsibility to be obligated to win. Being possible is better, like always we say, is a positive emotion and I hope and I wish Juan in the Giro will be filled with the opportunity to achieve success.' UAE Team Emirates-XRG have racked up 35 wins with 14 different riders this year so far, including Pogacar's third success in the UAE Tour in February. 'We know how much the team is important for the UAE, not just from a point of view of result but a point of view of motivation, like an example to follow, use the bike, do sport, be healthy,' Gianetti added. 'Every member of the team, riders, staff, they feel proud to represent the UAE, to wear their shirt all through the season around the world, the jersey that represents the country. 'We are very proud of the company and we are very proud of the goal of the season every year.'
