Del Toro triumphs in stage 17 to tighten grip on Giro d’Italia lead
MILAN: Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG delivered a commanding performance to win stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday, bolstering his ambitions of claiming a maiden Grand Tour title.
The 155-km stage from San Michele all’Adige to Bormio featured two brutal climbs — the Passo del Tonale and the fearsome Passo del Mortirolo — with a demanding 3,800 metres of elevation. Despite the grueling terrain, Del Toro showcased resilience and tactical brilliance, timing his sprint to perfection to take the stage victory.
With just over two kilometres remaining, the Mexican surged ahead of Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) at the end of the final climb. Bardet finished four seconds adrift, while Carapaz settled for third.
The win marks Del Toro’s first stage victory of the race and a vital confidence boost after a difficult outing on Tuesday saw his overall lead come under threat. Wednesday’s triumph not only extended his advantage in the general classification but also reasserted his status as the man to beat in the final stretch of the Giro.
