Giro d'Italia: Isaac Del Toro Extends Lead with Dominant Stage 17 Victory

Del Toro's determination pays off as he claims stage 17 victory, solidifying his lead in the Giro d'Italia general classification.

Isaac Del Toro rebounded from Tuesday's setback with a stunning victory on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia. After seeing his overall lead slashed from 1 minute 20 seconds to just 26 seconds, Del Toro attacked on the Le Motte climb and powered away from Romain Bardet and Richard Carapaz in the final 2 kilometers, showcasing his determination and strength.

Del Toro's Dominant Response

Del Toro bounced back impressively from Tuesday's setback, claiming his first Grand Tour stage victory with a powerful performance on stage 17. He celebrated his win with a bow and now holds a 41-second lead over Richard Carapaz, with Simon Yates 10 seconds further back.

“It's incredible, everybody wants this and today I realised I will never give up,” Del Toro said. “I will always stay one step in front, and I will always try... I don't have anything to lose and today wasn't easier than yesterday but for sure I had a better mentality.” Del Toro's perfect timing on the mountainous 155km ride to Bormio in the Alps showcased his determination and strength.

“It's incredible, everybody wants this and today I realised I will never give up,” he said.

“I will always stay one step in front, and I will always try... I don't have anything to lose and today wasn't easier than yesterday but for sure I had a better mentality.”

¡ISAAC DEL TORO GANA LA ETAPA 17 DEL GIRO DE ITALIA! 🇲🇽

El mexicano sigue escribiendo historia, mantiene la maglia rosa y se convierte en el primer ciclista de México ganador de una etapa en 23 años.

🐂🩷 ¡VAMOS, TORITO! pic.twitter.com/JSrn1HXvB5

— ESPN.com.mx (@ESPNmx) May 28, 2025

Del Toro Extends Lead

Isaac Del Toro extended his general classification lead after a thrilling stage 17 victory, finishing three seconds ahead of Romain Bardet and six seconds ahead of Richard Carapaz. Simon Yates, who trailed Del Toro by a significant margin overall, struggled to keep pace with Del Toro's attack, ultimately crossing the finish line nine seconds behind the stage winner.

“It's incredible, everybody wants this and today I realised I will never give up,” Del Toro said after his win. “I will always stay one step in front, and I will always try... I don't have anything to lose and today wasn't easier than yesterday but for sure I had a better mentality.” Del Toro's victory was a testament to his determination, and he now holds a 41-second lead over Carapaz, with Yates 10 seconds further back. Bardet's bid for a stage win came up short, despite a strong performance.

“As is often the case at the Giro, this is my fourth second place in four participations,” said the 34-year-old, who led on his own until being caught by Del Toro and Carapaz.

“I did my best. It's definitely a shame because I had everything in place to win, but you can't control the behaviour of the other teams. I'm proud of this last appearance in a Grand Tour.”

The 18th stage on Thursday will be a 144km hilly route from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno in Lombardy.