Isaac Del Toro is the revelation of this beginning of the season. Also Marino Amadori he told us about it the day before yesterday and before him the technicians who are around him, but the discussion can be further expanded. And among these technicians there is also Alejandro Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is the technician and discoverer of Del Toro. Follows the youth project in Mexico. Unlike the technicians who in UAE Emirates now they are close to him, he Del Toro He let him go, a bit like a father does when he sees his son starting to walk on his own. "Right," Rodriguez says. It's time for Isaac to get his experiences. He's a good guy and he doesn't forget his old friends."
From Mexico to San Marino
Rodriguez is in Italy. Or rather, in San Marino. That's where he's guiding his boys. In the midst of the cycling season, they leave Mexico and come to Europe. His athletes, as it was for Del Toro, they run wearing the colors of the MoneX Pro Cycling Team.
«We've been in San Marino for 3-4 weeks now – says Rodriguez – the project is moving forward and we've actually grown. We have 12 under 23s, 8 juniors and also 9 women, all under 23. So much so that we've bought two big houses. The girls live in one and the boys in the other." Isaac was also part of this group until a few months ago.
Half-astonished
Now the revelation of the UAE Emirates he still lives in San Marino, but in a house of his own. He still hangs out with his old friends from time to time. And his relationship with Rodriguez remains strong.
"A while ago," Rodriguez says, "we went out for pizza together. He doesn't have much time to be here anymore, between Australia, the Algarve, the Tyrrhenian Sea... there's been very little."
Rodríguez e Del Toro They feel each other, but Alejandro isn't pushy. He's not there for everything. He's aware that now Isaac is in the hands of one of the most cutting edge teams and took a step aside. That doesn't mean he doesn't continue to follow him.
«I found him and I see him very motivated – says Rodriguez – Am I surprised by his results? Not too much, considering how he did last year. Maybe it's because I've known him for longer, but his performances haven't entirely impressed me. If anything, I've been more impressed by the speed with which he's adapted. But as I said, since he's motivated and strong, it's understandable."
«When we did the tests as a kid you could see that he had something more. The others were finishing and he still had to start struggling. You don't find someone like Isaac every day."
Right program
Rodriguez talks about a Del Toro in good hands. The UAE Emirates There's certainly no shortage of good coaches. The Mexican coach appreciated the approach they had and continue to have with his protégé.
«Okay, the Sanremo, which Isaac wasn't supposed to do, they told him at the last minute to replace McNulty, but for the rest they have a gradual growth approach. In UAE they make him grow well, both with the workload and with the program. Last year, Avenir aside, Del Toro He did 7-8 stage races lasting 3-4 days, now they make him do week-long ones. I agree with this program."
There is however one aspect that we have noticed in Del ToroAt the Tirreno-Adriatico on both occasions of long climbs, he took them a little behind both times. He even dropped back a bit, only to then rebound fiercely. It almost seemed as if he'd been caught by surprise, given that throughout the climb he was the fastest, only yielding to the untouchable Vingegaard.
Something similar had happened last summer too Tour of the Aosta ValleyHe was surprised by Rafferty's attack but then beat him for 5 minutes. Is this an area that needs improvement?
"It's difficult," Rodriguez says, "to give a precise answer. There are so many factors at stake. We also need to see what the sporting directors' instructions were. We know that Isaac likes to walk at a pace. (he's also an excellent time trialist, ed.) but in races of that level everything is more difficult, especially for a young rider, even just maintaining a certain pace."
