Del Toro and Pidcock Doubtful for Ardennes Classics

The competitive landscape of the upcoming Ardennes Classics has been significantly altered as two of the primary favorites, Isaac del Toro and Tom Pidcock, have been sidelined by injuries.

Both riders are currently without clear recovery timelines just 10 days before the start of the classics triple, which consists of the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Isaac del Toro Withdraws from Itzulia

Isaac del Toro, the 22-year-old Mexican rider competing for UAE Emirates-XRG, was forced to abandon the Tour of the Basque Country, also known as Itzulia, during the third stage on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Del Toro suffered a heavy fall early in the stage. Although he remained conscious and initially attempted to ride on after the spill, he eventually withdrew from the competition.

UAE Emirates-XRG later provided a medical update, confirming that the rider sustained a right thigh muscle tear, and several related abrasions.

The team has not yet released a specific timeline for his recovery or confirmed when he will be able to race again. Del Toro had entered the Basque Country event as a favorite, though he had struggled to find his form in the opening stages prior to the crash.

Tom Pidcock’s Recovery Timeline Remains Uncertain

Simultaneously, Tom Pidcock of Pinarello-Q36.5 is facing an uncertain return to competition following a severe crash during the Volta a Catalunya.

Pidcock crashed into a ravine while descending Collada Sobirana. While he was able to remount and complete stage 5 of the race, he was a non-starter the following day and abandoned the event on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

His team reported that the accident caused bone and ligament damage, in particular to his right knee.

Pinarello-Q36.5 manager Doug Ryder has stated that the team is taking a cautious approach to Pidcock’s return to ensure a full recovery.

There’s no firm idea or understanding when he will be back on a bike or racing at the moment. We’re just trying to get the fluid off the knee and the swelling down and all that kind of stuff, so we just have to wait.

Doug Ryder

Ryder explained that once the swelling subsides, the team will utilize CT scans to better understand the details of the trauma before setting a date for Pidcock to return to training.

Impact on the Ardennes Classics

The potential absence of Del Toro and Pidcock is expected to reshape the racing dynamics of the Ardennes triple. Both riders are considered among the few athletes with the specific skillsets required to challenge the dominance of Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas in these grueling events.

Pidcock had been in strong form leading up to his injury, having won Milano-Torino in March 2026 and nearly defeating Tadej Pogačar at Milan-Sanremo.

He had intended to use the Volta a Catalunya as a testing ground for his climbing capabilities in preparation for a general classification attempt at the Tour de France in July.

With the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège scheduled for later this month, the cycling community awaits further medical updates from UAE Emirates-XRG and Pinarello-Q36.5 to determine if either rider will be fit to start.