Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, October 27, 2025
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Upcoming racing:
- November 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- November 16: Trofee Hamme-Flandriencross
- December 14: World Cup Namur
- December 23: Superprestige Heusden-Zolder
- December 26: World Cup Gavere
- December 29: Trofee Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Superprestige Diegem
- January 1: GP Sven Nys
Latest completed racing:
- October 26: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
- October 19: Veneto Classic
- October 19: Japan Cup
- October 19: Chrono des Nations
- October 15: Giro del Veneto
- October 12: Paris-Tours
- October 11: Il Lombardia
- October 9: Gran Piemonte
- October 7: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- October 7: Tre Valli Varesine
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Here’s the news from del Toro’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Del Toro becomes the Mexican Road Race Champion for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, adding to his title from the time trial earlier in the week
Isaac del Toro becomes the Mexican National Champion on the road
With another excellent performance on home roads, Isaac del Toro won the Mexican National Championships Road Race on Saturday afternoon. The result crowns the 21-year-old as the Mexican National Champion on both the road and in the time trial discipline, after his victory against the clock earlier in the week.
Raced in and around his home city of Ensenada in Baja California, Saturday’s event saw Del Toro on the attack with over 100km to go. The young UAE Team Emirates-XRG talent soon bridged up to the day’s breakaway, and an elite group of five riders formed at the head of the race.
Isaac del Toro after winning the 2025 Gran Piemonte. Sirotti photo.
As Del Toro went in search of completing the double in this week’s Nationals, Eder Frayre of Miami Blazers emerged as his strongest competitor. It was only fitting that when Del Toro made one of his strong accelerations on Ensenada’s most notable climb, Frayre was the only rider capable of following his wheel.
Despite being a relative veteran of the sport when compared with Del Toro, Frayre is a good friend of the 21-year-old and has proved a fine mentor for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG in his formative years as a professional cyclist. In the first National Championships to be certified by the UCI in a number of years, the crowd at the roadside was treated to a showdown between the new superstar and a former national champion in Frayre.
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For a while, it looked as though the pair might contest the win in a two-up sprint, short of being able to distance one another; however, it was Del Toro who made the decisive move with 6km to ride.
On the final ascent of the most notable climb, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider leaped out of his saddle and attacked, leaving Frayre scrambling for a response. A reply was not forthcoming from the Miami Blazers man, and Del Toro continued to open up his advantage as the climb unfolded.
Towards the crest of the peak, Del Toro thrilled fans by offering out a series of high fives to the mass of people gathered on either side of the road. It was a triumphant scene as the 21-year-old soared to his first national title on the road, ensuring that he will begin the 2026 campaign with his country’s colours on his trade team jersey.
Del Toro’s national champion jersey will soon be supplied by the historic Italian brand, PISSEI, but for now, the young sensation could celebrate another job well done in his post-race interview.
Del Toro: “It was a joy to take this win. To share it with the people of my home city has been a pleasure. I think I recognised 98% of the crowd out there today, and it felt amazing.
“It was really windy out on the course, it made the race that bit tougher but I’m proud and happy to take the win.
“I hope cycling in Mexico can continue to grow. It will take time, of course, but there are a lot of positive things happening, and I hope I can help play a small part in that.
“It’s been an amazing season, now it’s time for me to take a good break but I’m excited to wear the Mexican champion’s jersey in 2026.”
Mexican National Championships Road Race 2025 results:
1. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Eder Frayre (Miami Blazers)
3. José Gerardo Ulloa
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Here’s the news from van Empel’s Team Visma | Lease a bike:
Fem van Empel has claimed victory in the Exact Cross in Heerde. The 23-year-old Dutch rider made the difference in the final after a three-way battle with Aniek van Alphen and Leonie Bentveld. It marks the 50th professional win for the three-time world champion.
“Reaching my 50th victory was definitely one of my goals for this winter, so it’s fantastic that it’s already happened today,” Van Empel said afterwards. “I had secretly thought about a possible celebration beforehand, and a sign with ‘50’ on it seemed quite fitting. I really enjoyed this one.”
Fem van Empel was ready for her 50th win. Photo: Bart Hazen
Van Empel had a strong start on the tough course around the Heerderstrand, but an early bike change forced her to chase. In the following lap, she fought her way back to the front. In the penultimate lap, Van Empel joined race leader Bentveld, while Van Alphen was also still in contention for the win. In the end, Van Empel proved to be the most composed rider in the technical finale, taking her 50th professional cyclo-cross victory in convincing fashion.
“I had a good start, but decided to change bikes in the opening lap after someone rode into me. It was a tough course, so the gap was still manageable. In the final phase, I put Van Alphen under pressure in the technical section. Mistakes were easy to make on this course, and in the end I gained a small advantage. That turned out to be enough to make the difference today.”
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