Luke Plapp and Felix Gall also impressed on stage 6 of the UAE Tour, but the climb was a few kilometres too long for Tiberi who lost the race lead.
Cor Vos
It’s a strange thing to imagine that the UAE Tour could be considered more of a coming-of-age experience than almost winning the 2025 Giro d’Italia, but that’s just how Isaac Del Toro appears to see his latest success. The 22-year old Mexican took his second stage win of the UAE Tour atop the Jebel Hafeet on stage 6, distancing race leader Antonio Tiberi in the closing kilometres with what was – this time – a commanding approach to the infamous climb.
“I think today is one of the top three victories in my career,” Del Toro said after confirming he’d also succeeded Tiberi’s race lead with one day to go. “It’s so special, and when you win with a team like this it’s even more special. Now, it’s time to realise that I’m working for it and I need to believe more in myself day by day.”
Despite having to let go of Del Toro’s wheel, and then simply watching as a powerful Luke Plapp and Felix Gall passed him by, Tiberi nevertheless continued to impress three days after taking his biggest win to date on stage 3. He was, in the end, the biggest threat to the UAE Team’s young leader in what was not quite the showdown hoped for or anticipated at the Middle Eastern WorldTour race.
While Del Toro ultimately delivered on his favourite status in his UAE Tour – and 2026 season – debut, his expected nemesis Remco Evenepoel fell short on the stage 6 summit finish. The 2023 UAE Tour champion didn’t totally capitulate on the Jebel Hafeet, but after his earlier acceleration came to nothing, Evenepoel dropped away with 5 km to go, setting his own pace to finish 52 seconds down in 15th.
It was a UAE Tour of big lessons for its big names. One came away with a gold star, the other has some work to do, but he does at least know where to start.
[race_result id=9800 stage_id=90105 count=5 gc=0 year=2026]
[race_result id=9800 stage_id=90105 count=5 gc=5 year=2026]
Del Toro passes with flying colours
After a massive breakthrough year in 2025, Del Toro started his 2026 campaign at his team’s home race, the pre-ordained leader for the first time in a WorldTour stage race. He kicked things off with a surprise stage 1 victory on a finish where sprinters have triumphed in the past, but just 24 hours after swapping his Mexican national champ’s jersey for the red of race leader, the 22-year-old underperformed in the ITT and saw the race lead swing back in his main rival’s favour.
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