Mexico's Del Toro completes a full week in pink. He's got 1 more week to go to win the Giro

ASIAGO, Italy — Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro has worn the Giro d'Italia leader's pink jersey for one week.

Now he's got one more week to go as the 21-year-old attempts to beat all of the pre-race favorites and claim his first Grand Tour victory.

And what a final week it will be, with all of the biggest climbs in this year's race grouped together before the Giro ends in Rome next Sunday.

''Little by little,'' Del Toro said. "I want to bring it (the pink jersey) home.

''We need to play with the cards that are there and we will see who we play in the last week," Del Toro added. "But for sure I showed a little bit that I am quite good.''

Del Toro closed down attack after attack on the two climbs of the 15th stage Sunday and maintained his advantage of 1 minute, 20 seconds over Simon Yates.

''It's not easy,'' Del Toro said. ''I need to be there when someone strong goes."

Notably, pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic, the 2023 champion who was fifth overall, was dropped on the second climb and fell to 10th, 3:53 behind.

Spanish rider Carlos Verona got into an early breakaway and won the stage on his own for the biggest victory of his career.

The 219-kilometer (136-mile) route from Fiume Veneto to Asiago included a big climb up Monte Grappa at the stage's midpoint.

Egan Bernal, the 2021 champion, attacked near the top of Monte Grappa and Del Toro was quick to follow. As was Richard Carapaz, the 2019 champion, before all of the leaders came back together following the descent.

There were more attacks on another, shorter climb to Dori, with a summit 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the finish. But Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to wear the pink jersey, was the first to react to all of those attacks, too.

''It was a bit nervous,'' Del Toro said of his week. ''I always want to be in front for precaution.''

It's only Del Toro's second Grand Tour. He finished 36th in the Spanish Vuelta last year.

''In my position I feel nervous because everyone is my idol. I am like a fan,'' Del Toro said. ''But now I need to follow the attacks. I know it's going to happen now, now, now, and I'm just waiting. Being able to follow is crazy.''

In the overall standings, Del Toro's UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso remained third, 1:26 behind. Carapaz is fourth, 2:07 behind, and Derek Gee of Canada moved up to fifth, 2:54 behind.

Verona dedicated his victory to Giulio Ciccone, his Lidl-Trek teammate and leader, who abandoned the race following a crash on Saturday.

Monday is the race's third and final rest day.

Stage 16 on Tuesday is one of the race's toughest, a 203-kilometer (126-mile) leg from Piazzola Sul Brenta to San Valentino that includes four major climbs across the Dolomites — including an uphill finish.

___

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling