Del Toro reveals mystery knee pain ahead of Il Lombardia: 'Same bike, same shoes, same everything'
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Follow us on GoogleAhead of Thursday’s Gran Piemonte race, Isaac del Toro said he needed time to recover from the World Championships. The Mexican rider from UAE Emirates-XRG not only had to deal with the usual jet lag, but also suffered from knee pain following his trip to Europe.
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The elite men’s road race at the World Championships took place on September 27, and Gran Piemonte was scheduled for Thursday, October 8. So Del Toro was back racing a week and a half after the World Championships, and by his own admission, he really needed that time.
"I'm doing just fine," he said Thursday morning on Eurosport. "I've been dealing with some jet lag and a little knee pain, but hopefully things will be back on track from now on. Let's see how my legs feel and make the best of it."
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Del Toro at the World Championships, where he finished seventh.
Del Toro doesn't understand why his knee hurts after the world championship
When asked about his knee pain, Del Toro said, “I don’t know why, but after the trip to Europe, my knee was bothering me a bit. It started acting up, even though I rode the same bike and wore the same shoes in Canada. Everything was exactly the same.”
Of course, Del Toro wouldn't have started the Gran Piemonte if his knee were still bothering him. "We'll see how I feel—hopefully I'll feel good and be able to do my job," said the climber, who was named team leader by UAE Emirates-XRG on Thursday.
Continue reading below the photo
Del Toro to Ride the Gran Piemonte with Brandon McNulty
Del Toro to lead UAE Emirates-XRG at Il Lombardia
That will likely be the case on Saturday in the Tour of Lombardy as well, especially now that Tadej Pogačar won’t be there. His teammate, World Champion Brandon McNulty, is also a contender, presenting an interesting team dynamic (headache?) for UAE.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
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- - I’m still learning the sport—how can someone be the second-youngest WorldTour pro ever if his contract starts in 2027? Does that record depend on his exact birthday and debut date?pedalpowe2908-10-2026
- - “Once-in-a-generation talent” is a huge claim. What power numbers did Noval actually produce in Asturias, and how do they compare with riders of the same age?jeremya08-10-2026
- - The Contador comparisons are exciting, but also a bit premature. Time-trial ability is a major advantage, though the jump from juniors to the WorldTour can be brutal. Hopefully INEOS gives him time to develop rather than expecting instant results.patriciaw08-10-2026
- - Noval’s junior season has been absolutely ridiculous. Winning both world titles and the European time trial title suggests he isn’t just a climber—his versatility could be what separates him from the other big prospects.gearguru3308-10-2026
- Great drama, but the article leans a little too hard into the “what if” angle. Evenepoel still had to recover from a crash and finish the job—credit where it’s due.robert6507-10-2026
- What exactly is a pacer in this situation, and why was Ciccone listening to that information instead of just watching the race? I’m still learning the tactics, but it seems like Scaroni being behind changed everything.andrewf07-10-2026
- The photo finish sounds far too vulnerable to tiny setup errors. If the line is curved and the camera alignment is even slightly off, can we really call a one-pixel victory completely definitive?jennifer1907-10-2026
- Ciccone’s final turn was excellent, but I agree with Zonneveld that he probably worked too much before the finish. With Scaroni behind, sitting on Remco’s wheel would have been the smarter gamble.bikebuffj07-10-2026
- Evenepoel showed serious resilience after that crash. Coming back, attacking on the descent and still winning the sprint is a proper champion’s performance.cadencekingm07-10-2026
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