After his podium finish at the Tour de France, Mexican champion Isaac del Toro has extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, committing his long-term future until 2031.
He had already been confirmed to stay until 2029, but this updated deal makes him the rider with the longest commitment to cycling’s top team, with even Tadej Pogačar and rising talents Pablo Torres and Jan Christen’s contracts set to expire in 2030.
Del Toro has become the secondary leader at UAE this season, backing up his runner-up finish from last year’s Giro with third at his first Tour, all while supporting Pogačar to a fifth yellow jersey and winning a stage himself in Barcelona.
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“I’m very happy to continue this journey with UAE Team Emirates-XRG. From the moment I joined the team, everybody has believed in me and given me the best environment to develop as both a rider and a person,” said Del Toro on the team’s website.
“Every season I’ve learned something new from my teammates and the people working around me, and I feel that I’m improving all the time.
“This team feels like home. We share the same ambition, the same passion for racing and the same desire to keep getting better. Signing long-term gives me a lot of confidence because I know I’m in the right place for my future.
“We’ve already achieved some amazing victories together, but I honestly believe the best is still to come. I’m excited to keep growing with this team and fighting for the biggest races in the world.”
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Still just 22 years old, Del Toro has a massive ceiling as a talent and has already proved to be one of the top stage racers in the world, winning the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in 2026.
With Pogačar entering what are expected to be the latter years of his illustrious career, UAE will be looking to ensure they have the next best thing for when he retires, and – despite rumours swirling about the team’s interest in French teenager Paul Seixas – they could already have that in Del Toro.
Del Toro’s rapid improvement from Tour de l’Avenir winner to likely future Grand Tour winner has been remarkable, but what makes me most expect him to be UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s heir apparent is his relationship with Pogačar.
Clearly friends on and off the bike, Pogačar’s behaviour during the Tour – gifting him the win on stage 2, trying to lead him to another on stage 15, and opting to drag him up Alpe d’Huez’s upper slopes instead of chasing another stage win on the penultimate day, allowing them to celebrate together – suggests the Mexican is who he wants and believes should lead the team in future.
Agreeing a deal for the next five seasons confirms UAE agree, and whether or not they do eventually sign Seixas or not, landing this extension and securing Del Toro’s future was the most important move they could make in the transfer market in 2026.
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