The UAE Team Emirates' 2025 Giro d’Italia collapse is back in the spotlight, and this time, it’s personal. Isaac Del Toro’s recent revelations have reignited the debate, exposing a communication breakdown that cost him the coveted Maglia Rosa on the grueling Colle delle Finestre. But here’s where it gets controversial: was this a simple oversight, or a catastrophic failure in team strategy? Cycling legend Chris Horner isn’t holding back, and his critique is sharper than ever.
In a candid reaction on his YouTube channel, Horner dissects Del Toro’s latest interview, arguing that it finally exposes the decisive tactical error that derailed UAE’s Giro campaign. At the heart of the controversy is a now-infamous statement from team director Fabio Baldato: ‘Well, I told him one time going up to climb.’ This single line, referring to the threat of Wout van Aert assisting Simon Yates, has become the focal point of Horner’s scathing analysis. And this is the part most people miss: Horner insists that under the pressure of a Grand Tour summit finish, such minimal communication is indefensible. ‘He should have been reminded repeatedly before the climb even started,’ Horner asserts, his disbelief palpable.
According to Horner, this was the exact moment UAE’s Giro bid began to unravel. As the Finestre stage unfolded, EF Education-EasyPost ignited the race, launching Richard Carapaz. Horner paints a vivid picture of the domino effect: ‘Mikkel Honore blew it all up. Brandon McNulty, Rafal Majka, Adam Yates—all dropped.’ Suddenly, Del Toro, just 21 and in only his second Grand Tour, found himself isolated in pink. Yet, Horner commends Del Toro’s resilience: ‘He does an amazing job to come right back up to Carapaz,’ showcasing both physical prowess and mental composure.
But the real turning point, Horner argues, wasn’t an attack—it was the silence. While Del Toro shadowed Carapaz, Simon Yates surged ahead, ultimately launching the race-winning move. Here’s the kicker: Del Toro was never properly informed about Van Aert’s presence up the road until it was far too late. ‘The gap is up to 55 seconds before he hears in his race radio,’ Horner explains, his frustration evident. In Horner’s view, the outcome was sealed from that moment: ‘If he gets to Van Aert’s back wheel, nobody’s catching him.’
Del Toro’s own reflections only reinforce Horner’s critique. In his interview with GCN, Del Toro laments, ‘They should’ve told me about Van Aert when he had ten seconds. I’d have said: let’s attack, let’s try.’ Horner’s most damning verdict? ‘You almost never see the strongest rider in a Grand Tour lose because he never even tried to defend the jersey.’ For Horner, Del Toro didn’t lose the Giro—the UAE team car lost it for him. ‘The directeur sportif failed multiple times,’ concludes the former Vuelta a Espana winner.
But here’s the question that’s dividing fans: Was this a simple communication lapse, or a systemic failure in team strategy? Did UAE Team Emirates underestimate the threat, or was Del Toro left to fend for himself? And what does this mean for the future of young riders like Del Toro, who rely on their teams to guide them through the chaos of a Grand Tour? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
