Isaac del Toro Signs Long-Term Deal with UAE and Pogačar to Lock Down Tour de France Future

Isaac del Toro extended his contract with UAE Emirates-XRG through 2031 on Thursday to give Tadej Pogačar‘s superteam a lock on the Tour de France podium for two more years.

Del Toro, third overall at this year’s Tour, had been signed with UAE through 2029 until the marquee extension Thursday.

There had been rumor the 22-year-old’s long-term future at the world’s biggest bike team was in balance due to its ongoing interest in French phenom Paul Seixas.

Not so.

UAE Emirates-XRG pulled the strings to secure the world’s third UCI-ranked rider for at least five more seasons.

“I’m very happy to continue this journey with UAE Team Emirates-XRG,” Del Toro said in a press note Thursday. “From the moment I joined the team, everybody has believed in me and given me the best environment to develop as both a rider and a person.

“Every season I’ve learned something new from my teammates and the people working around me, and I feel that I’m improving all the time.”

This is one of the most impactful moves so far of the 2026-27 “silly season” of rider transfers and extensions.

Del Toro is one of the hottest young talents in the WorldTour.

The Mexican has charted an exponentially upward trajectory since he burst onto the scene when he won the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir.

After a near miss at the 2025 Giro d’Italia, “Torito” has obliterated almost everything in front of him.

He won 9 one-day races in less than two months last autumn and has been on a tear through 2026.

He won the overall at UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Tour-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and was Pogačar’s right-hand man through the Tour de France.

It’s only a matter of time before the fast-finishing Mexican wins a grand tour.

UAE Emirates-XRG poised for long-term grand tour dominance

With Pogačar signed through 2030 and João Almeida on the books through 2028, UAE Emirates-XRG could be dominating the WorldTour for some time longer.

The possible arrival of Seixas would give it an embarrassment of riches.

Del Toro will have to carve his place in the team’s busy GC hierarchy.

With a contract through 2031, he’s got plenty of time to do it.

“This team feels like home. We share the same ambition, the same passion for racing and the same desire to keep getting better,” Del Toro said.

“Signing long-term gives me a lot of confidence because I know I’m in the right place for my future. We’ve already achieved some amazing victories together, but I honestly believe the best is still to come,” he said.

“I’m excited to keep growing with this team and fighting for the biggest races in the world.”

Del Toro’s program for the remainder of 2026 is unknown.

He’s not part of Pogačar’s support crew for the Vuelta a España but will likely be targeting the Montréal road worlds and a series of the autumn classics.