Mexico's latest sports sensation has erupted on Italian soil. As the Giro d'Italia 2025 kicked off in early May, a prestigious road cycling race, the name Isaac del Toro, a 21-year-old cyclist from Baja California, was still under the radar of major sports headlines. Known among a niche group of cycling fans, this sport has not received the media attention or support that others in the country monopolize. Fast forward three weeks, with only a few days left until the competition concludes, Google searches for del Toro have surged, and videos featuring him in the iconic maglia rosa—the leader's jersey for each stage—are being shared extensively.

Excitement is building as this Sunday, the young talent from Ensenada could become the first Mexican to win one of cycling’s grand tours, a feat that would elevate him to the pinnacle of the global cycling scene.

What is the Giro d'Italia and when does it take place?

The Giro d'Italia ranks among the top road cycling competitions worldwide. It kicks off the trio of grand tours each year, alongside the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. The event comprises 21 stages over three weeks in May, mostly held in Italy. It is hailed as the second most prestigious stage race globally, just behind the Tour de France. This year's Giro hosts 23 teams and 184 cyclists vying for the coveted maglia rosa, which marks the stage leader and overall victor.

On the afternoon of May 29, del Toro maintained his lead in stage 18, the third-to-last before the race concludes in Rome. With three stages remaining, set for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Mexican cyclist tops the general classification with a time of 68:56:32, ahead of Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz and Briton Simon Yates by 41 and 51 seconds, respectively. If del Toro triumphs in the Giro d'Italia, he will be the first Mexican to don the maglia rosa and conquer one of the grand tours.

Timings for the final stages of the Giro d'Italia

The concluding stages of the Giro d'Italia feature two high-altitude mountain challenges: stage 19 from Biella to Champoluc spans 166 kilometers and kicks off on Friday at 04:20 AM (Mexican time); stage 20 from Verrès to Sestrière (Vialattea) covers 205 kilometers, starting Saturday, May 30, at 02:45 AM. The final stage, a 143-kilometer ride finishing in Rome, begins Sunday at 07:05 AM.

Where to watch the Giro d'Italia 2025

In Mexico, the remaining stages of the Giro d'Italia can be viewed live via Claro Sports on YouTube. Following the buzz created by del Toro, TV Azteca has announced it will broadcast the final stages on Azteca Deportes Network, its pay-TV channel, and also offer free streaming via YouTube and the Azteca Deportes app.