Del Toro not ruling out Roglic yet and warns opponents about UAE tactics: "We'll lay our cards on the table next week"

INEOS Grenadiers was the first to try their luck on Monte Grappa. The British team accelerated on the long climb, after which Egan Bernal broke away. "At that point, we decided on the pace as a team," said Del Toro during the press conference. "We didn't want to give the breakaway too much time without really making up any time ourselves. The team did that brilliantly. But then they came with a train, and Bernal tried to attack."

Del Toro immediately positioned himself behind the INEOS train. "I could see that they were trying to open up a gap with Arensman and that Egan would then make his move. I tried to figure out when he would go. When I got away with him, I also saw Carapaz. I tried to stay with them and maintain my position at the front without taking any risks." At the top, the group with Del Toro had a small gap on the chasing group.

That group was led by Del Toro's team, UAE Emirates-XRG. "They didn't chase me," the Mexican replied when asked why his team closed the gap. "They did that to stay out of trouble and make it down safely. I also crashed because I didn't look at my bike computer properly." The rider added: "Today wasn't the day to try anything. It was still quite far, and the breakaway had already gone. But next week, we can, of course, put our cards on the table."

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On the day's final climb, the Dori, Del Toro countered every attack. Once again, they came from the INEOS Grenadiers team, but Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) got out of the saddle. "I had to be alert because every rider here is so strong and has good legs," said the leader of the Giro d'Italia. "So I'm happy to have these legs to stay with everyone. It was a tough day, but it's good to know and feel that I can do it."

The biggest victim of the attacks on the final climb was Primoz Roglic. The Slovenian rider from RedBull-BORA-hansgrohe couldn't keep up and eventually lost a minute and a half to Del Toro. Nevertheless, the GC leader is not ruling out the former Giro winner. "He is one of the best riders and never gives up. He has already shown that and will do so again next week. He is still racing here, so we must watch out for him. Maybe he had a bad day, but he also crashed, of course."

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Del Toro's answers, as he crossed the finish line in seventeenth place, were clear and could have been given by an experienced rider. Yet the talented rider is still only 21 years old. "It's unbelievable. It is a really amazing dream. I realize that I'm fighting here every day, and I have confidence in what I'm doing. It's so tough, but with this team, anything is possible."

He also receives a lot of support from his home country. "Having an entire country just for you, it's incredible. They always support me." The South American rider is also amazed by the peloton. "I'm a rookie; they are my idols," says Del Toro when talking about his competitors. "And now I have to race against them, which is my big dream."