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Isaac del Toro Sets New Jebel Hafeet Record with 25:15 Climb at UAE Tour

May 19, 2026
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Isaac del Toro rewrote UAE Tour history on Jebel Hafeet, storming to a record 25:15 ascent and beating Adam Yates’ 2023 benchmark. With UAE Team Emirates-XRG dictating the climb, del Toro’s late attack proved unstoppable.

​Isaac del Toro set a new climbing record on Jebel Hafeet on Saturday, stopping the clock at 25:15 to deliver the fastest ascent in the history of the UAE Tour summit finish.

Isaac del Toro (Credit: Cor Vos)

​The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider improved on the previous record of 25:53, established by teammate Adam Yates in 2023.

​With a tailwind of approximately 5 m/s aiding riders across the exposed sections of the climb, conditions favored a high pace from the start.

​Jebel Hafeet has traditionally played a major role in the UAE Tour.

​In 2016, Tanel Kangert claimed victory in 29:15. Since then, times have steadily decreased, with Tadej Pogacar recording 26:16 in both 2021 and 2022 before Yates set the fastest mark two years ago.

​On Saturday, UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlled the ascent from the base, quickly reducing the lead group.

​Yates increased the tempo in the middle section of the climb before del Toro launched his attack with 4.2 kilometers remaining.

​Antonio Tiberi initially responded, and Luke Plapp bridged across inside the final three kilometers, but del Toro’s repeated accelerations proved decisive.

​The Mexican rider pulled clear in the closing kilometers to secure the record, with Plapp finishing second and Felix Gall third.

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