Image: from GDeportes X @GEBDeportes
By Open Chronicle
Isaac del Toro produced the biggest victory of his young career on Sunday, claiming Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France after crossing the finish line arm in arm with teammate Tadej Pogačar in a memorable one,two finish for UAE Team Emirates,XRG.
The emotional victory in Barcelona marked the first time in Tour de France history that UAE Team Emirates,XRG has secured first and second place on a stage, while also making Del Toro only the second Mexican rider ever to win a Tour de France stage, following Raúl Alcalá’s triumph in 1990.
A Perfect Team Performance
The opening road stage showcased the collective strength of UAE Team Emirates,XRG from start to finish.
Nils Politt controlled the early breakaway before Florian Vermeersch and Tim Wellens guided the team’s leaders into the decisive closing kilometres. On the climbs of the Côte du Castell de Montjuïc, Brandon McNulty produced a devastating pace that shattered the peloton, dropping numerous contenders.
Once McNulty had completed his work, Adam Yates took over, delivering Del Toro and Pogačar into the final ascent in perfect position.
Mattias Skjelmose launched an aggressive attack near the summit, but Del Toro immediately responded, closing the gap while initially riding to set up a victory for his Slovenian teammate.
Instead, the race unfolded differently.
As the pair entered the final metres together, it became clear they were the strongest riders in the race. Pogačar eased off slightly, allowing his young teammate the opportunity to claim a historic first Tour de France stage victory.
The two riders crossed the finish line together, celebrating one of the most memorable moments of the 2026 Tour.
Emotional Celebration
The scenes after the finish reflected the significance of Del Toro’s achievement.
Barcelona’s large Mexican community greeted the riders with chants of “Pogi, hermano, ya eres Mexicano!” as supporters celebrated both the stage victory and the remarkable teamwork displayed by UAE Team Emirates,XRG.
On the podium, Del Toro collected not only the stage winner’s trophy but also the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification and the green jersey as leader of the points competition.
Pogačar embraced his teammate after the finish, lifting him into the air while the crowd applauded the pair’s sportsmanship and teamwork.
Del Toro: “It Means Everything”
An emotional Del Toro admitted the victory exceeded anything he had imagined.
“It means everything. I feel incredibly privileged to be here. We worked so hard as a team to reach this moment, and I had complete confidence from everyone around me. This victory belongs to my teammates, my family and everyone who helped me along the way.”
The Mexican rider also praised Pogačar and the atmosphere within the team.
“Being on the same team as Tadej and riding for the best team in the world is something special. This means so much for me and especially for my country.”
Reflecting on the decisive finale, Del Toro explained that the original plan had been to help Pogačar win the stage.
“We planned everything for Tadej. I chased Skjelmose because that was the plan. But then the race changed, and I just followed the moment. Opportunities like this almost never come, and I’m proud I had the level to take it.”
Overall Classification Tightens
Although Del Toro celebrated the stage victory, Jonas Vingegaard retained the overall race lead and the yellow jersey after two stages.
Pogačar reduced his deficit to just six seconds, while Del Toro climbed into fourth place overall and now leads the competition for the best young rider.
Stage 2 Results
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaac del Toro | UAE Team Emirates,XRG | 3:40:01 |
| 2 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates,XRG | Same Time |
| 3 | Remco Evenepoel | Red Bull,BORA,hansgrohe | Same Time |
General Classification After Stage 2
| Position | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonas Vingegaard | 4:01:48 |
| 2 | Tadej Pogačar | +0:06 |
| 3 | Remco Evenepoel | +0:15 |
| 4 | Isaac del Toro | +0:16 |
With two stages completed, the battle for the 2026 Tour de France is already taking shape. Vingegaard continues to wear yellow, but UAE Team Emirates,XRG has demonstrated formidable collective strength, with both Pogačar and Del Toro emerging as major protagonists in this year’s race.