Isaac Del Toro secured third place overall at the Tour de France 2026, according to race results following the 20th stage. The Mexican rider, nicknamed “Torito,” finished the queen stage behind stage winner Richard Carapaz and kept Paul Seixas behind him, sealing his position with support from teammate Tadej Pogačar and overcoming a recent team illness.
Isaac Del Toro Claims Maiden Podium After Overcoming Team Illness
Riding in his debut Tour de France, Isaac Del Toro finished the queen stage of the 2026 race in a mutual embrace and a bull-horn gesture mirroring his “Torito” nickname. According to Del Toro, the team battled a virus over the preceding three days.
“It’s amazing, I have no words,” Del Toro said, as reported by team accounts. “It’s no secret that we had a virus in the team and the last three days were very painful. But the team believed in me and supported me. Maybe you saw it through the glasses, I had tears in my eyes.”
Del Toro secured the white jersey as the best rider under 25 years old in the general classification. His teammate, race leader Tadej Pogačar, spent the final two hours of the demanding climb pacing the front to protect Del Toro’s podium spot.
Tadej Pogačar Puts Team Goals Ahead of Stage Victory
Tadej Pogačar defended his yellow jersey while sacrificing personal stage ambitions on Alpe d’Huez to support Del Toro. According to former Australian cyclist and stage winner Robbie McEwen, Pogačar functions as a team player who returns support to his squad rather than riding solely for personal records.
“Maybe a lot of people say that I helped Isaac to the podium, but first of all, he and the team helped me to the yellow jersey,” Pogačar stated. “For me, it was an honor today to work the last two hours for Isaac.”
Team sports director Andrej Hauptman confirmed that Pogačar reported no physical issues and volunteered to set the tempo on the climbs. The collective effort placed two UAE Emirates – XRG riders on the projected podium ahead of the final stage in Paris.
Sepp Kuss Survives Terrifying Crash on Descent of Col de Sarenne
American rider Sepp Kuss of Visma-Lease a Bike experienced a crash during the 20th stage while attempting to secure a stage win on Alpe d’Huez. According to race reports, Kuss slid twice within seconds on a descent before the final climb, with the second incident sending him sliding against a low wall overlooking a steep drop buffered by a safety net.
“I was on the limit and misjudged the corners a bit,” Kuss said. “First in the tunnel and then in another corner when I tried to regain lost time. In the second case it was pretty scary. I want to apologize to my wife and family for scaring them.”
Team manager Marc Reef expressed disappointment with the outcome, noting that Visma-Lease a Bike held a winning position before the crash derailed their tactical plan. Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost capitalized on the breakaway to claim the stage victory and the polka dot jersey.
Did you know?
The final stage of the 2026 Tour de France was shortened from 133 km to 89 km due to a shortage of security forces deployed to fight regional forest fires.
Route Changes Set Up Explosive Finale on Montmartre
The 21st and final stage of the 2026 Tour de France diverges from traditional ceremonial sprints by featuring a punishing circuit through Paris. Riders will tackle the one-kilometer cobbled Montmartre climb with a 5.5 percent gradient three times.
Pogačar addressed whether he will contest the stage win following past defeats against riders like Wout van Aert. “We’ll see how I feel tomorrow,” Pogačar said. “Wout is not here this year, so I have one less opponent. This stage is not the main goal, I won’t risk it, but maybe I’ll try.”
Mathieu van der Poel enters the final day as a primary favorite after conserving energy through the high mountains specifically to target victory on the Champs-Élysées.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 20th stage of the Tour de France 2026?
Richard Carapaz won the 20th stage on Alpe d’Huez and claimed the polka dot jersey.
What position did Isaac Del Toro finish in the general classification?
Isaac Del Toro finished third overall and secured the white jersey as the best young rider under 25.
Why was the final stage shortened?
Organizers shortened the final stage from 133 km to 89 km due to a shortage of security personnel committed to handling regional forest fires.
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