'Either I crash myself, or I go into Tadej' – Isaac del Toro takes a tumble for his leader but gets instant payback as 'insane' Pogačar works for him on Tour de France summit finish

PLATEAU DE SOLAISON, FRANCE - JULY 19: (L-R) Remco Evenepoel of Belgium and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Yellow Leader Jersey compete during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 15 a 183.9km a 155.3km stage from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison 1501m / #UCIWT / on July 19, 2026 in Plateau de Solaison, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

Isaac del Toro had a split-second decision to make. “Either I crash myself, or I go into Tadej,” the Mexican said of the moment when the peloton overshot a corner on stage 15 of the Tour de France, the same moment in which Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour ended.

The natural reflexes of self-preservation may have kicked in, but they were overridden by the sense of duty to his master.