Isaac Del Toro Survives Crash in Tour de France

Stage 15 of the 2016 Tour de France delivered an unforgettable spectacle filled with tension, attacks, drama, and moments that completely changed the course of the race.

Although Isaac Del Toro suffered a crash, the Mexican rider got back up to deliver a performance that showcased his immense character.

The stage’s main attraction was the ascent of the Plateau de Solaison, a legendary hors catégorie climb renowned for its extreme difficulty and considered one of the most selective climbs in the entire race.

From the first few kilometers, the pace was very high on a constantly uphill course that led to the intermediate sprint, where Jasper Philipsen used his speed to clearly outpace Mads Pedersen and take the maximum bonus available.

The battle continued shortly after on the first third-category climb, where another intense duel unfolded between France and Ecuador thanks to Valentin Paret-Peintre and Richard Carapaz.

The French rider once again dominated, crossing the summit first, while Carapaz had to settle for second place in the mountain classification.

Meanwhile, the peloton opted to control the pace, allowing a large breakaway of around twenty-five riders to gain prominence and build a lead of over three minutes.

This offensive took complete control of the stage and began contesting every available mountain prize before the anticipated final climb.

On the first-category climb, Quinn Simmons demonstrated his strength to claim the maximum points, leaving Tom Pidcock with no chance, as he lost positions during the ascent.

Later, the picture changed completely when the peloton reached the penultimate third-category climb, where Pidcock crossed the summit first, while Simmons had to settle for second place.

As the kilometers ticked by, the favorites gradually increased their speed, aiming to reduce the gap and close in on the breakaway riders.

However, the tranquility vanished suddenly when a right-hand bend became the scene of the most dramatic moment of the entire day.

Five riders ended up on the asphalt after an accident involving three members of Visma and two cyclists from UAE Team Emirates XRG, including Isaac Del Toro and Félix Großschartner.

The Mexican rider’s reaction was crucial in preventing even more serious consequences, as he realized the danger and quickly put his hands out to protect himself during the fall.

As soon as he regained his balance, he got back on his bike and began an impressive comeback.

Although he managed to continue without losing too much time, the images showed that something wasn’t quite right for the young Mexican rider.

For several kilometers, Isaac Del Toro repeatedly placed his hand on his left buttock, clearly showing signs of discomfort as he continued fighting to stay with the main contenders for the general classification.

The situation wasn’t easy for Félix Großschartner either, who, after changing bikes, began pedaling with obvious difficulty, showing signs of pain with every movement.

Unfortunately, Jonas Vingegaard suffered the worst consequences of the crash.

The Visma leader abandoned the race after showing apparent signs of a broken collarbone. He was taken away in an ambulance with his shoulder completely immobilized by medical personnel and visibly in pain.

Despite this, Isaac Del Toro staged an extraordinary comeback, allowing him to rejoin the leading group to tackle the Plateau de Solaison.

The Mexican rider rejoined his leader, Tadej Pogačar, demonstrating tremendous mental strength, although physically it was clear that the effects of the crash were beginning to take their toll.

The extremely steep ramps of the climb gradually eliminated the remaining frontrunners, one by one, until the group of contenders for the victory was completely reduced.

After Vingegaard’s withdrawal, only Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Isaac Del Toro managed to stay at the front during the decisive kilometers of the ascent.

Just as in the second stage, Isaac Del Toro didn’t launch Pogačar’s attack, allowing the Slovenian to work at the front and prepare for the decisive moment.

With 900 meters to go, the Mexican made his expected move, accelerating decisively to surprise his rival, but Remco Evenepoel responded immediately, not giving an inch.

With approximately 300 meters remaining, Isaac Del Toro tried again, determined to contest the victory, but moments later he had to sit back down due to the intense pain from his earlier crash.

Evenepoel immediately noticed the Mexican’s slowed pace and seized the opportunity to launch a powerful counterattack that ultimately snatched the stage win.

Isaac Del Toro lost contact in the final meters and crossed the finish line in third place behind Tadej Pogačar, concluding a performance marked by effort and endurance.

Beyond the result, the main news is that the cyclist from Ensenada managed to complete the stage despite the hard fall, although his physical discomfort was evident during the final stages.

Now all eyes are on the rest day, an opportunity that could prove crucial for Isaac Del Toro to receive the necessary treatment from the UAE Team Emirates XRG’s massage therapists, physiotherapists, and doctors, with the goal of making a full recovery before the final week of the 2026 Tour de France.

Remember that every day we follow the Tour de France 2026 live through our YouTube channel Cyclinity, where you will find full coverage of Isaac Del Toro throughout the most important race in world cycling.