Del Toro: “When I realized that my teammates and the coaching staff wanted me to be second or third overall I said to myself: ‘I’m screwed'”

The Mexican Isaac del Tororecent winner of the Singapore Criteriumreviewed the season that is coming to an end and his participation in the Tour de Francewhere he finished third and as the best young person, although he confessed that he came “without personal ambition.”

“The moment that comes to mind from the season is when in the Tour I realized that the people around me saw me more on the podium than I did myself. I went without personal ambition, on vacation, to enjoy myself while doing my job. In my head it was not yet the moment, which would come one day, but not yet,” said the UAE cyclist in an interview published this Tuesday by L’Équipe.

“I wasn’t even thinking about winning a stage, but this guy (Tadej Pogacar) made me win on the first day (in Barcelona). When I realized that my teammates and the coaching staff wanted me to be second or third overall I said to myself: ‘I’m screwed’. At that moment you have to take a step forward, be more aggressive. For me it was the most special moment of the year,” he added.

Del Toro said he admired Pogacar “for his way of enjoying life,” an aspect that, he said, he shares with him.

“I never thought about being famous, it’s something quite new, I’m starting to get used to it. Maybe that’s why I was so distrustful at first,” he said.

The cyclist, who left his home in Mexico at the age of 14, assured that he lives somewhat isolated in San Marino and that he rarely returns to his country.

“I lived in San Marino for eleven months to do my job and pursue my dreams. I left home knowing the sacrifices I was going to have to make and now I let myself go. I enjoy every day, but it’s different than the European runners, I’m never at home, I hardly see my family. I’m always alone and I do my thing. Maybe that’s why I try to take advantage of every opportunity,” he commented.

The Mexican regretted that in the last World Cup he could not try for victory: “It was unprecedented for me and I broke down. With the distance he told me that I did what I had to do. I will try again.”

Regarding the rivalry with the Frenchman Paul Seixas assured that “he is a rider who encourages others to show their ambition,” but he noted that he sees him as another rival within the peloton.