Del Toro Claims Stage Two Victory in Tour de France

Isaac Del Toro wins stage two of the 2026 Tour de France, guided by teammate Tadej Pogačar, as Vingegaard retains the yellow jersey.

In a thrilling conclusion to stage two of the 2026 Tour de France, Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro clinched victory on Sunday afternoon, supported by his UAE Team Emirates teammate Tadej Pogačar. The duo crossed the finish line in Barcelona, just ahead of Remco Evenepoel, while Jonas Vingegaard finished fourth, successfully holding on to the yellow jersey but seeing his lead over Pogačar reduced to six seconds.

The stage, covering 169 kilometers from Tarragona to Barcelona, featured a competitive atmosphere. A three-man breakaway, including Felix Engelhardt—who won the day’s combativity award—alongside Frank van den Broek and Alex Molenaar, led the charge early on. As the race reached its hilly conclusion, UAE Team Emirates took control, thanks to strong performances from Brandon McNulty and Adam Yates.

Del Toro faced a challenge when he fell two minutes behind the peloton due to a mechanical issue, requiring assistance from UAE’s second team car. However, he made a commendable comeback, joining the front in time for the race’s dramatic finale. The 22-year-old is now the second Mexican ever to win a stage in the Tour, a feat previously accomplished by Raúl Alcalá in the late 80s.

In a post-race celebration, Pogačar proudly donned a Mexican flag, chanting with the enthusiastic crowd as he celebrated Del Toro’s achievement. Pogačar, known for his competitive prowess, played a crucial role in ensuring Del Toro secured the win. The finish was particularly heartwarming as Pogačar held back, allowing Del Toro to ride away from Vingegaard during the final moments.

“It really means everything,” Del Toro said, reflecting on his victory. “The work of everybody, my family, my friends. I cannot believe what I did; it’s just insane.” His recent form, highlighted by a victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, places him as a promising contender for a podium finish in the overall race.

Despite Del Toro’s triumph, Vingegaard and his team, Jumbo-Visma, remained resilient, aware that the battle is far from over. Vingegaard acknowledged his need to improve his acceleration against Pogačar as the Tour progresses. Meanwhile, Evenepoel showcased a solid performance, completing the stage in third place, although teammate Florian Lipowitz experienced a setback, finishing 10 seconds behind.

No major general classification contenders lost significant ground, with rising stars like Paul Seixas and Tom Pidcock finishing closely behind. Seixas, still recovering from an early season crash, secured a ninth-place finish. The pressure will mount for the young Frenchman as the race transitions into his home country.

As the Tour heads into France in the upcoming leg, they face a stage marked by nearly 4,000 meters of elevation, but without particularly steep climbs. Hence, the stage will offer a strategic landscape for both Pogacar and Vingegaard as they prepare for the challenges ahead.