'I can do better' - Isaac del Toro misses out on final Tour Down Under stage

Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) cut a disappointing figure at the end of his first WorldTour race, clearly emotional and apologising to the staff member who met him at the top of Mount Lofty.

It was Del Toro who launched the decisive move on the final stage of the Tour Down Under, attacking on the last lap to draw out the group that would go to the line, but he was ultimately outsprinted by stage and overall winner Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech).

Read more: Tour Down Under stage 6: Stephen Williams wins final stage and overall

The 20-year-old finished third on both the stage and the overall, and secured the young rider classification as a consolation prize, but it was clear he was disappointed to miss out on another win.

“It was hard to be honest,” Del Toro said at the finish. “In the last part I tried for the team, they all helped me into the last corner. I did my best and can do it better than today. I tried, and the first part and the second part I enjoyed, but in the sprint, I can do it better. I’m happy but at the same time not too much, but it’s good.”

Del Toro won stage 2 with an audacious attack, which led to him spending three days in the ochre leader’s jersey, but he struggled to balance his early success with how he performed over the weekend.

“It’s more [important] that I won,” he conceded about his stage win. “But after yesterday, because I didn't do my best climb, it is good for me, but I like to give my 100 per cent for the team. You have six guys working for you, and 100 guys working off the bike, and for me it’s not really nice. Today I tried to win the stage or for the seconds, but I can do it better.”

Despite being a neo pro and just 20 years old, the Tour de l’Avenir winner is one of the most anticipated riders in the peloton, and has only added to the hype surrounding him with his performances at the Tour Down Under.

Read more: Isaac del Toro: Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana inspired me to follow my dream

Even with all the attention and expectations - comparisons have already been made with Tadej Pogačar, for example - the young rider insisted that any pressure comes from his own high hopes rather than his UAE Team Emirates squad.

“I don’t feel pressure, because my teammates are really good with me,” he said. “They care about me, they always stay talking with me about this. There’s not a lot of pressure, only responsibility to do my work well and try to do my best, and my teammates are really good with that and they help me a lot with this situation.”

With a few moments to reflect, the Isaac del Toro who walked to the podium was a lot more calm and collected than the rider who had crossed the line full of emotions and apologies.

“I think [my performance] was really good. It’s like a dream for me and it’s the first experience, and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s one of the biggest dreams,” he said.

The signs are undeniably there with Del Toro, and getting used to losing is as important a lesson as losing, but the young Mexican was clear and concise about what he needs to do after this WorldTour breakthrough: “I need to keep learning.”