🎥 How Isaac Del Toro turned Mexico’s birthday cake into a cycling crown

Isaac Del Toro has quickly put Mexico on the map as a cycling country in just under two years. The winner of as many as 18 races in 2025 and the runner-up at the Giro d'Italia is spending his offseason after two national cycling titles (road + time trial) in his home country, and there he was graced with a cake and honorable sports award on Thursday on his birthday.

First, let's sing for the birthday boy, as Del Toro blew out 22 candles on a cake presented to him on Nov. 27 at the awards show he attended - dressed in a suit. The UAE Emirates-XRG climbing talent was a little uneasy about it, but luckily for him it all happened backstage and not on the big stage.

Once on the big stage, Del Toro was honored once again, and as Sportsman of the Year in Mexico. Now your first thought as a cycling fan is: logical, after such a year full of victories and in a country not known for its many top athletes. Yet Del Toro is the first Mexican to win the award as a cyclist, in a country that, on the contrary, mostly runs away with soccer.

With the award proudly in his hand, Del Toro took a photo after the awards show. It just doesn't stop for the man, who has climbed to second on the ladder at UAE in a short time. Tadej Pogacar is, of course, the big leader with the team, but Del Toro seems to have a right to speak toward 2026 when it comes to programs and big races.