From drama to epic: Del Toro crowned the Vuelta a Burgos

▲ The Ensenada cyclist (right), who became the first Mexican to win this race, had a tough battle yesterday with Italian Giulio Ciccone (left), who ultimately won the final stage of the Spanish tour. Photo @isaac_deltoro_romero1

Juan Manuel Vázquez

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. 9

If Isaac del Toro wrote stories, he would be called gimmicky. Because this tale, in which he played the protagonist and culminated as a hero yesterday, began with tragic overtones on Tuesday. As if it were five chapters, the Mexican cyclist chose drama as his approach in the first stage of this race in northern Spain, with a fall just before the finish line that dropped him to 49th in the general classification. But on the fifth and decisive day, it transformed into epic glory as he came from behind against everyone, against himself, and against fate—including a puncture—to win this competition with a theatrical performance. The fall and the resurrection.

Del Toro arrived at this stage race on Tuesday as the overwhelming favorite. Despite missing out on a podium finish in the San Sebastián Classic on Saturday, he had triumphed on Sunday at the Getxe Circuit, also in the Basque Country, a territory where cycling is more than entertainment or sport; it is part of the national memory. Above all, he was preceded by the surprising lead he snatched in the Giro d'Italia and the runner-up finish he achieved there, gaining the status of a strategic objective for all rival teams in this Vuelta a Burgos.

In that first outing on Tuesday, Del Toro managed the strategy, resisting the attacks of opponents who considered him among their most valuable targets in this competition. And the UAE Team Emirates teammates protected and supported the Mexican in his role as leader.

A damn curve

Just a few meters from the finish line on the first stage, on a cursed curve and on the cursed cobblestones, the Baja Californian's rear wheel skidded and sent him sprawling. In that slide, he also knocked down Giulio Ciccone, the Italian who had snatched the podium from him in San Sebastián, and Del Toro's fate seemed as murky as the classification pit he ended up in. Rising from 49th place with the accumulated seconds of such a disadvantage made him a martyr.

So Del Toro's heroic deed was written from the most gruesome depths, like a classic hero, a self-respecting Mexican idol. Each stage was an opportunity to cling to the last glimmer of hope or a gradual descent into misfortune.

The outcome was redemption. The Mexican faced too many challenges: a multitude of unbeatable rivals, some leaders who wouldn't let him recover, self-confidence, a 26-second deficit to the overall leader, Frenchman Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon), and above all, the whims of fortune, which played a particularly perverse role yesterday.

The final stage, 138 kilometers from Quintana del Pidio to Lagunas de Neila, featured four mountain passes to destroy the legs and souls of the daredevils. On this route, Del Toro could have been reborn or finally written his own drama. The first two hills served to test the spirit more than the muscles and lungs; on those peaks, there were some breakaways and group efforts to neutralize potential threats.

The Mexican pedaled with patience, sometimes a quality as valuable as leg power, while the peloton waged personal battles, canceled out breakaways, fought for points on high-altitude passes, and the cyclists with a chance of winning the stage and the classification had their sights set on something bigger.

At the third summit, Alto de Rozavientos, the race began to unravel. A fearless Australian, Jai Hindley (Red Bull), stirred up the hornets' nest, but everything managed to stay under control, while Del Toro and Ciccone alternated to nullify any threats and leave everything as a duel between them at the end. The descent was already a desperate competition, and just as they were about to reach the bottom of the slope to begin the most radical climb before the finish line in Lagunas de Neila, another unexpected event occurred for Isaac. With 14 kilometers left, the Baja Californian suffered a puncture in his rear tire. He raised his hand to request the urgent intervention of the UAE car, while still pedaling, since today's tires not only contain air; they also have a sealing foam that allows them to continue, although they lose power in the rolling. It was clear from the team car who had ascended to the leader status, as his spare bike was first in the order. Even so, the Baja Californian lost valuable seconds in the rescue operation.

The resurrection

And so began Del Toro's resurrection. It deserved to be sung like an epic poem, not told like a chronicle. The Mexican danced standing on the pedals, cadence, from side to side, up and down with a rising rhythm. Some were sizing up his chances of winning this fifth stage; the Mexican cyclist was trying to reverse a story that had been complicated from day one.

He failed to win the stage; that one went to the Italian Ciccone. Del Toro finished 10 seconds behind yesterday's winner and didn't win a single stage, but he managed to emerge from the bottom of the standings to take home something more valuable: the 47th edition of the Vuelta a Burgos, becoming the first Mexican to do so. He achieved this without sparing drama or denying catharsis.

▲ The Mexican delegation, made up of 381 athletes, during the opening ceremony of the event. Photo @conadeoficial

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. a10

Olympic archery medalist Ángela Ruiz and sprint cyclist Etan Nuño waved the Mexican flag at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games.

The athletes, who were national flag bearers, marched at the head of the delegation in a colorful ceremony that combined music, traditional dances, and a drone show for just over two hours.

"It's a historic day. This competition is the fruit of the joint efforts of a country that believes in sport as an engine of development. I want to thank everyone, the workers and the artistic teams, because without you, this would not have been possible ," said César Ramírez, president of the Games Organizing Committee.

Local artists such as Néstor Lo, Juan Cancio Barreto, Purahéi Soul, Villagrán Bolaños, and urban star Tiago PZK were present at the opening.

Fabrizio Zanotti, gold medalist in golf at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, was in charge of lighting the cauldron.

The Games, which were inaugurated by Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Nieto, brought together 4,000 athletes from 41 countries, who will compete for medals in 28 sports.

Soon, you will be the greatest glories of continental sport, the next world and Olympic medalists. This is going to be an incredible celebration, because it features athletes who are role models for the next generation. Remember that in sports, the one who works the hardest wins the most , commented Neven Ilic, head of Panam Sports and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Mexico will be represented by 381 athletes, seeking to surpass the fourth-place medal finish they earned four years ago at Cali 2021.

"This is going to be an unforgettable experience, very different from the Olympic Games, because I'll be competing with very young teammates, almost children. I'm excited to learn new stories and be able to share some of what I've learned throughout my career with my teammates. Winning a medal in Asunción will be a great way to close out my career as a junior ," Ruiz shared.

On the first day of competition, Mexico had preliminary events in rowing and shooting, as well as archery practice. The national delegation's strong contenders are Ruiz, world diving medalists Mía and Lía Cueva, and four-time world medalist Diego Villalobos in artistic swimming.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. a10

Two-time world muay-thai champion Laura Burgos maintained her perfect record at the World Games in Chengdu and advanced to the gold medal match, where she will face Martyna Kierczyńska of Poland.

The 34-year-old faced a tough semifinal matchup, but managed to prevail 30-27 over Slovakia's Monika Chochlíková. If she wins the gold medal, Burgos would improve on her performance from Birmingham 2022, where she took silver.

Pablo Monroy will also be looking to reach the podium this morning in the wakeboarding event. The Mexican athlete advanced to the medal race after placing third in his semifinal.

Among the athlete's main achievements is the bronze medal at the 2019 U-14 World Championships.

Wushu national team member Héctor Vázquez will be vying for a spot in the semifinals when he faces Spaniard André Fandiño in the 85-kilogram category. Vázquez has medals at junior Pan American Games.

We've had a good preparation, and I hope it's reflected in my results. I have some international experience, and I think that will help me in my upcoming matches , said the national team member.

To date, Mexico has two medals: a gold won by Maya Becerra in the compound bow and a silver by Maya and Sebastián García in the mixed team competition. Our country is participating in the twelfth edition of this competition, where it ranks 29th in the all-time medal tally among more than 90 nations.

At the last edition of Birmingham 2022, the national delegation won five gold medals, two silver, and five bronze.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. a10

Mexican tennis player Renata Zarazúa bowed out of the Cincinnati Masters after losing a close second-round match to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina.

In a back-and-forth match, the tricolor played toe-to-toe with the world number 10, who ultimately took the victory with scores of 4-6, 6-0, and 7-5.

In the first set, the sun beat down on me quite strongly. I honestly didn't feel well. Somehow, I got used to the weather and improved my game. I was happy to have advanced to the next round. Renata played very well , Elena said.

Zarazúa came into the match without being considered the favorite. In the first set, she unleashed her full tennis repertoire to take the set, surprising the crowd. In the second, the story was completely different, with the Kazakh player completely dominant to tie the match.

In the final, the Mexico City native maintained her fighting spirit and extended it to 5-5. It was then that, despite the Mexican's resistance, Rybakina prevailed to halt the tricolor's dream. Zarazúa won the support of the crowd, who chanted "Let's go Renata, let's go."

This year, the 70th- ranked player has faced top -10 players four times: world number one Aryna Sabalenka; Italian Jasmine Paolini (9), Spaniard Paula Badosa and Rybakina (10).

Zarazúa's next match will be in Monterrey.

Sinner and Swiatek advance

In other results, Jannik Sinner demonstrated his credentials as world number one in tennis by debuting with a resounding victory in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters 1000, which saw two favorites, Norwegian Casper Ruud and Italian Lorenzo Musetti, be dismissed yesterday.

The 23-year-old Italian defeated Colombian Daniel Galán (144) with a double 6-1 in the fastest victory (59 minutes) of his career on the professional circuit.

In WTA 1000 action, Poland's Iga Swiatek had no major problems in her debut, defeating Russia's Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-4.

Meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka got off to a successful start in the tournament by defeating Czech Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1. She will face Emma Raducanu in the second round. "I'm so happy to be back. I hope to improve with every match ," said the defending champion.

▲ The moment Jen Pawol calls out Javier Sanoja of the Marlins in the eighth inning. It was simply incredible, the dream really came true , the umpire declared after the game. AP Photo

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. a11

Atlanta. Jen Pawol felt the love and support of fans, family, teammates, and players as she made history as the first woman to umpire in a regular-season game in Major League Baseball (MLB).

It was incredible when we walked out onto the field , Pawol said. It seemed like quite a few people were clapping and chanting my name. It was pretty intense and emotional.

Pawol's long-awaited debut came at first base in the first game of a doubleheader, where the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 7-1 in the first game. It was a quiet debut.

He did a good job , Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Pawol said a group of about 30 friends and family members, including his father, attended the game. He immediately recognized a big difference in working at a major league stadium. Those familiar faces weren't as easy to find at Truist Park.

“When I looked up, they weren't at the bottom level like they were in the minor leagues. It took me a while. 'Wow, they're up there!' I'll never forget that. It was just incredible.

The dream truly came true today. I'm still living it. I'm so grateful to my family and to Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. I'm so thankful.

Pawol's first real test came in the third inning of Game 1, when he ruled Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough didn't challenge the call.

Pawol also showed she'll make emphatic calls. In the third inning, when Miami's Xavier Edwards grounded into a double play, the umpire raised a fist and a leg when she declared Edwards out.

Pawol noticed that her debut was being closely watched. Fans responded with a warm ovation when the video board focused on her between innings, forcing her to quickly glance at her image.

Pawol worked third base in the second game of Saturday night's doubleheader. And he'll be in the spotlight when he calls pitches behind the plate this Sunday, in the final game of the series.

While he waits, the umpire's cap he wore in his first game will be on its way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“ This is one of the proudest moments of my entire career ,” crew chief Chris Guccione emphasized. “I’ve been blessed to work in the playoffs , I’ve worked two World Series, All-Star Games, and this is right up there. It gives me chills even thinking about it. And the magnitude of it just hit me, the magnitude of this and how hard she’s worked. She’s just a great role model for girls and women out there, and I’m so proud of her. This is a special moment.”

There was much anticipation. A crowd of photographers gathered as they waited for the umpires to walk onto the field from their entrance ramp near the Marlins dugout .

Pawol's rise to the historic achievement in the majors comes 28 years after the NBA broke the gender barrier for referees, 10 years after the NFL hired its first full-time female official, and the men's World Cup hired a female referee for the first time three years ago.

▲ The gold and blues celebrate their victory over Puebla. Photo @PumasMXFemenil

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. a11

América extended its unbeaten streak and regained the lead in the Liga MX Femenil Apertura 2025 tournament after beating Necaxa 4-0 in the fifth matchday match yesterday at Estadio Victoria.

In a match that started several minutes later than scheduled due to the presence of bees on the field, the Eagles opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Scarlett Camberos connected with a pass from Irene Guerrero and finished with her right foot from the center of the area to make it 1-0.

Camberos herself extended the lead in the 45th minute to make it 2-0.

In the second half, which was also delayed due to a thunderstorm, Kimberly Rodríguez made it 3-0 after surprising the home goalkeeper, Jennifer Amaro, with a header in the 56th minute. This third goal completely annihilated the Centellas' hopes, and the game became even more complicated in the 76th minute when Karen de León was sent off for a second yellow card.

As if that weren't enough, in the final stretch, the home side received another blow at 90+6, after Montserrat Saldívar scored from a direct free kick to make it 4-0.

With this result, the Azulcremas, who have accumulated five consecutive wins, reached 15 points and moved to the top of the standings, while the Centellas remained in 14th place, with four points.

At the Hidalgo stadium, the current champion Pachuca defeated Santos Laguna 3-1 with goals from their top scorer Charlyn Corral (15), Nina Nicosia (31) and Ohale Osinachi (78), with which they added 10 points and placed in fifth place.

In turn, the Warriors, who scored through Mayra Santana (41), placed themselves in 13th place, with four points.

In their visit to Cuauhtémoc Stadium, Pumas came back from behind to defeat Puebla 2-1, thus maintaining their unbeaten record.

Thanks to goals from Julissa Dávila (52) and Laura Herrera (90+3), the auriazules added 13 points and placed third in the table. The La Franja team, which has not been able to win, remained in second-to-last place (17), with no points.

From the Editorial Staff and AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, August 10, 2025, p. a11

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah has lashed out at UEFA on social media following a post in which European football's governing body expressed its condolences for the death of former star Suleiman Al-Obeid, known as the Palestinian Pelé , who was killed in an Israeli strike during an aid distribution in the southern Gaza Strip.

“Farewell to Suleiman Al-Obeid, the Palestinian Pelé . A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the most difficult times,” UEFA posted on a picture of the 41-year-old former player on social media, to which Salah, the Egyptian national team player, added questions that were echoed by thousands of followers.

"Can you explain to us how, where, and why he died?" the Egyptian asked, given the organization's stance of not mentioning the conflict and distancing itself from the humanitarian crisis reported in Gaza.

On Friday, the Palestinian Football Association announced the death of Al-Obeid, who was married and the father of five children, according to AFP.

Nicknamed "The Gazelle" and the Palestinian Pelé , Al-Obeid began his career with local club Khadamat Al-Shati. His talent and speed led him to the national team, with whom he earned 24 international caps. With over 100 goals scored throughout his career, he was considered a star of his country's football.