Even without Pogacar, UAE looks like the team to beat in the Giro: how will the three leaders divide responsibilities?

UAE Team Emirates-XRG has a dilemma for the Giro d'Italia; that much is clear. Juan Ayuso is doing great in 2025 and will normally head to Italy as the leader. But in the winter, Adam Yates and Isaac Del Toro were also presented as potential leaders. How do the relationships stand after three months of racing?

If we look at the numbers, Ayuso has presented himself as the leader of the Giro d'Italia with UAE. The 22-year-old Spaniard first won the Faun Drome Classic and Trofeo Laigueglia and then dominated the Tirreno-Adriatico with stage wins and the GC. He also seemed to have a chance of winning the Tour of Catalonia, but that was before a surprising attack by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). The Slovenian will be UAE's biggest challenger in the Giro in May.

Number two on the list is Adam Yates, but the Brit has not been able to score many results since winning a stage and the GC in the Tour of Oman. He served (after illness) as a domestique for Ayuso in the Tirreno, launched Del Toro to win in Milan-Turin, and was also a helper in Catalonia. Yates emphasized to Cyclingnews that he expects to be in top form for the Giro after altitude training. "I already said at the start of the year that I'd try to take a little bit easier in these first few races, but it's been good. If you get a bit of illness, it takes a bit of the edge off, but that's how it is. These things happen."

In the Sierra Nevada, he will start climbing at altitudes together with Ayuso, while Del Toro will normally still do the Tour of the Basque Country in April. "Many guys have been preparing full gas at altitude, especially now," he pointed out, "but I've been at home, working hard but not going full gas. So I'll just have a short rest, and then I'll start getting ready," says a highly motivated Yates. It is not without reason that he told IDLProCycling.com in December that he wants to go for a GC. "I have always had a lot of bad luck in grand tours, through illness and crashes. It is always tricky, but hopefully, it works out in my favor in the Giro."

Read more below the photo.

Adam Yates in the Tirreno-Adriatico

What role will the rising star Del Toro play in the Giro?

If we look at the results again, Del Toro seems to be the man to watch after Ayuso. The 21-year-old Mexican already rode the Vuelta a España last year but fell ill with corona. This year, he finished second in the Clásica Jaén and won Milan-Turin. He finished thirteenth in Milan-Sanremo, although he did not manage to do his job for leader Tadej Pogacar. Will we see him leading the Giro for Ayuso and/or Yates? Or will he be allowed to ride for himself? "In any case, the team is giving me the space to go for it from day one," he told this website.

Joxean Matxin discussed Del Toro's role in May with Bici. The Spanish leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG is optimistic. "Isaac is a rider with a lot of talent and class; he can become a great athlete. We are not focused on his specific goals; we want him to grow gradually. Isaac is making progress in longer efforts, but also in the short ones. But we don't pressure him; he already carries that responsibility. Isaac often jokes, but when the race is serious - for others or himself - he is fully committed."

And about the Giro d'Italia, Matxin says: "Isaac is physically ready for the Giro; the experiences from the Vuelta have helped him. His relationship with Juan is very strong, as is his friendship with Tadej. He feels at ease in the team, so he has everyone's support. He will be an important support for Ayuso in the Giro. But if he does well and can win himself, he will be able to count on our help—and on that of Yates, too."

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