VALENTINE'S DAY – Isaac Del Toro arrives in front of the journalists a few minutes from the end of the sixteenth stage of his first Tour of Italy. The Mexican of the UAE Team Emirates He retained the pink jersey despite attacks from Richard Carapaz and Simon YatesHe trembled but didn't sink. Despite his young age, he held his own against the Ecuadorian and British strikes. The second one gave him many little pinpricks, as if wanting to awaken the young scion dressed in pink from a dream. A dry and decisive slap from Carapaz, which hurt and could have left much deeper scars.
Going down to the podium Jose Matxin, sports manager of the UAE Team Emirates, he hasn't lost his smile. On the one hand, Ayuso he finally gave up 42 kilometers from the finish line on the other side Del Toro he had the clarity of mind not to panicThe pink jersey remained with the team that wore it for twenty of the twenty-one stages last year. Who knows with what doubts and certainties Isaac Del Toro he tucked in last night.
Legs
The third week of the Giro d'Italia opens with several considerations to take into account. One of these is the collapse of Isaac's certainties Del Toro which until last Sunday seemed to be under complete controlIf we look at the time bonuses he took home, the Mexican is second only to Mads Pedersen, a sign that he didn't hold back in every sprint or sprint available.
«It was a really difficult day for everyone – he says Del Toro still dressed in pink and with a wool hat perched on his head – everyone was on edge. The riders in the general classification had a busy dayThere were many crashes (another one for Roglic, who was then forced to retire, ed.). I can only be proud of my team; without them, I certainly wouldn't be in this position. I definitely didn't have the best legs of my life but I did my bestI reached the finish line without a shred of energy left in me. I want to let everyone know that I'm doing my best and my goal is to give 100 percent to keep this jersey."
Confidence
What are the certainties that give to Del Toro self-confidence? It's hard to say.Certainly, compared to the previous stages, it is good to think about every single energy spent, fuel is not infinite.
“I’m not one of those riders,” he explains, his haste to leave evident on his face, “who believes in trust. Rather, I like to have "certainties" about what I am able to do every time there is an attack.I want to believe in my ability to respond to every attack, but we'll see how we perform in the race and whether it's a smart move. Today (yesterday for those reading, ed.) I didn't follow carapaz because I wanted to closely follow the second in the overall standings, Yates. In the fight for the overall I think it's a question reserved for the top four (Gee, carapaz, Yates and Del Toro same, ed.)».
Every second counts
The Giro d'Italia can be won by second place, and looking at the classification you can see how the gap between Del Toro and Simon Yates is the result of the discounts. Without them, the positions would be reversed and the forces would be equal.
The road has so far told us of a strong, but not unassailable, leader of the Giro. For opponents, seeing the throne creak could be an incentive to continue to push, hoping to topple the King and wear the crown themselves.
Alone at home UAE Emirates it is known the reason linked to the "no" day of Del ToroThe problem is that the road quickly brings one to terms with reality, and today, towards Bormio, the difficulties are numerous. Yates and Carapaz are ready with bow and arrows to assault the master of the Giro, like skilled Robin Hoods facing the treasure guarded by the Sheriff of Nottingham. It will be up to the soldiers to guard the rich loot, knowing that the road takes no prisoners.
