Del Toro extends lead over Roglic and Ayuso despite crash, expects racing on Monte Grappa

Del Toro did indeed hit the asphalt. “We were chasing the breakaway. As we entered the city, it was quite slippery, and that’s where the crash happened. I also fell when someone bumped into me, but I got up and rode back to the front,” he explained. “I don’t know what happened behind me. Maybe the whole road was blocked? Someone hit me, but that’s how it went. At least I was able to continue,” said the race leader.

At the time, he wasn’t aware of the race situation. “I didn’t know who was where. The only thing I saw was that Visma | Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck were leading, so I figured I was in the front group. When I reached the group with Tom Pidcock and Richard Carapaz, I saw Antonio Tiberi lying on the ground. But that was it.”

Meanwhile, his UAE Emirates-XRG teammates were trying to locate him. “I was being cautious on the descent, and in all the chaos, I heard the team directors telling the other riders that I was up front. Because they wanted to be sure. I told them I was at the front with the sprinters, but I had no idea where the others were. The directors told me to stay calm and just get to the finish safely. When I passed that spot a second time, it was still very slippery.”

Del Toro ended up increasing his lead — something no one expected in this kind of stage. “This isn’t how you want to gain or lose time. It’s part of the sport, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I just hope the guys recover well. The fact that I didn’t lose time was partly luck. And so was gaining time.”

The Mexican also defended the teams that kept pushing the pace. “Visma | Lease a Bike was riding for Olav Kooij. They wanted to be in control to win the stage, and that’s it. They were already at the front and just stuck to their plan. It’s not their fault that riders crashed behind them.”

So what’s next? “I’m in good form, and the people around me give me confidence. I’m trying to believe I can win the Giro. With the lead I have now, it’s become more realistic. I’m a good rider, and I have to keep believing that, but that hasn’t changed. I already knew I was a good rider.”

Sunday’s stage includes the Monte Grappa climb, while rivals like Antonio Tiberi and Giulio Ciccone are injured. “We’ll see how it goes and who has the legs. We’ll take it day by day. First, I need to talk with my own team, because I don’t even know how my teammates are doing. Simon Yates (who overtook Juan Ayuso for second overall, ed.) is a major rival and a great rider, but nothing changes for us. Will there be racing on Monte Grappa? Yes. I just hope it goes better than today.”

After the stage, UAE Emirates–XRG confirmed that Ayuso, despite his time loss, did not crash. The Spaniard is now third overall, 1:26 behind Del Toro, with Yates (Visma) in second at 1:20.