Nibali questions the Mexican's preparation, finishing only 28th in the Lombardia. His participation in the Gran Piemonte, two days before the Monument Classic, is also under scrutiny.
Vincenzo Nibali has criticized UAE Team Emirates-XRG's decisions in preparing for Isaac Del Toro at the 2026 Giro d'Italia. The two-time winner of the Giro d'Italia Classica delle Foglie Morte has expressed some doubts about the calendar management of the young Mexican, who arrived at the final Monument of the season with great ambitions but was forced to settle for a disappointing 28th place.
Del Toro, tipped as one of the main favorites going into the race, finished 4:59 behind winner Paul Seixas, unable to respond to the Frenchman's decisive attack on the Civiglio. This performance was significantly below expectations, which Nibali believes could also be linked to the team's decisions in the days leading up to the race.
Interviewed by Bicisport at the end of the Lombardia, Vincenzo Nibali raised doubts about the appropriateness of fielding Del Toro at the Gran Piemonte, held just 48 hours before the Como event.
According to the former Sicilian champion, the particularly intense schedule may have compromised the freshness of the Mexican, who has already been struggling with some physical problems in recent weeks.
"Maybe racing the Gran Piemonte just two days before the Lombardia wasn't the best choice. He probably wasn't 100% today ," Nibali observed.
The winner of the 2015 and 2017 Lombardy races also emphasized how energy management becomes crucial in the final part of the season, especially when a rider has to deal with minor physical problems and numerous close-quarters commitments.
Del Toro, in fact, had already suffered knee problems before the Gran Piemonte, a problem that had also affected his training. Despite this, the Mexican took part in the Piedmont race, launching an attack in the final stages before being caught.
Isaac Del Toro himself confirmed his less than optimal physical condition. After crossing the finish line at the Lombardia, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider acknowledged that the efforts accumulated during a particularly demanding season had paid off.
«It wasn't the day I was hoping for, nor was it one of my best days on the bike» , the Mexican declared to BiciGoga.
In addition to the knee discomfort, Del Toro had to deal with fatigue resulting from numerous competitive commitments and travel during the year.
The Lombardia result doesn't, however, negate a top-level 2026 season. The 22-year-old has achieved prestigious victories such as the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Deutschland Tour, and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal.
Added to these results is his extraordinary debut at the Tour de France, finishing on the third step of the podium, with a stage victory and the white jersey.
Now, for the Mexican talent, the time has come to recharge his batteries for next season.
If Del Toro's performance left some question marks, Paul Seixas's instead impressed Vincenzo Nibali.
The 20-year-old Frenchman won the Lombardia thanks to an attack on the Civiglio, about 19 kilometers from the finish, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the race and breaking a record that had stood since Giovanni Gerbi's victory in 1905.
What particularly struck Nibali was the confidence with which Seixas tackled the decisive climb.
"I saw tremendous confidence in him. He tackled the Civiglio from the first to the last meter, only getting up on the pedals once ," explained the Shark.
According to Nibali, the young Frenchman's ability to maintain his own pace without being influenced by his opponents represents an important sign of his competitive maturity.
A performance that confirms the enormous potential of Seixas, capable of conquering one of the most prestigious races on the international calendar with a demonstration of strength and personality.
Analyzing the outcome of the race, Nibali also highlighted the different strategies adopted by the protagonists in approaching the Lombardy.
Seixas had chosen to forgo the European Championships to focus on the Italian Monument. This decision may have allowed him to arrive at the event in the best possible condition.
The situation is different for Remco Evenepoel and Giulio Ciccone, both returning from the efforts of the continental event.
Evenepoel, the newly crowned European road champion, finished the Lombardia in fourth place, unable to get into the fight for victory.
"We probably expected something more from him, but he still finished fourth. It's possible he wasn't 100% ," Nibali commented.
Similar considerations also for Giulio Ciccone, author of a positive performance and capable of taking third place.
Nibali said he trained with the Italian rider and had the feeling that he had not yet fully recovered from the efforts of the European Championships.
The Shark's words therefore bring attention back to a crucial aspect of modern cycling: calendar management and physical recovery , especially in the final weeks of an increasingly demanding season.
And if for Paul Seixas the 2026 Lombardy Championship represents the definitive consecration among the great protagonists of the group, for Isaac Del Toro there remains the regret of a missed opportunity, at the end of an otherwise extraordinary year.
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Nibali questions the Mexican's preparation, finishing only 28th in the Lombardia. His participation in the Gran Piemonte, two days before the Monument Classic, is also under scrutiny.
Seixas flies, Mas does well. Del Toro, Roglic, and Ayuso drop.
Remco Evenepoel finished fourth at the 2026 Lombardy and didn't hide his disappointment: "My legs weren't responding." The Belgian praised Seixas and admitted he was tired.
The Frenchman leaves everyone behind on the Civiglio; MAS 2nd, Ciccone 3rd
