“Torito! Torito! Torito!”

I was trapped in a swell of fans — a mass of chants, Mexican flags and the odd can of cerveza.

Metres away, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG sports director Joxean Fernández Matxin was speaking to other reporters, but I couldn't get close enough to hear — let alone record — anything he was saying.

Mexican Isaac del Toro had just won his country's first Tour de France stage since 1986. On the final slog up Montjuïc, Torito hauled himself across the line just ahead of his teammate Tadej Pogačar. So often the protagonist, the four-time Tour winner, clearly delighted by the prospect of Del Toro winning the stage, held back from a full sprint for what would have been his 22nd Tour stage victory. He is such a prolific winner that it felt unusual for him to be back at the UAE team bus so soon after a stage — usually he has media obligations to attend to, like those Del Toro was busy doing.

The expectant Mexican crowd waiting for their hero had to make do with the greatest cyclist of all-time. I felt a tap on the back of my leg. A boy, no older than eight, asked if he could stand in front of me, to get a closer look at Pogačar warming down. Fair enough.

Like a matador Pogačar flicked a Mexican flag in the air to the delight of the crowd and then wrapped it around his shoulders for his warm down on his static bike. This prompted a crescendo of: "Pogi, hermano, ya eres Mexicano" ("Pogi, brother, you are already Mexican").

Watch the video above to see Tadej Pogačar celebrate with Mexican fans at finish of stage 2

The chanting lapsed back into "Torito! Torito! Torito!", as soon as the television on the UAE team bus showed the highlights of the stage finish, Del Toro and Pogačar crossing the line together in what is the latest iconic UAE moment.

In the press room Del Toro was feeling the love.

"They make me feel like I'm in a home race," said the 22-year-old from Ensenada, in the north west of the country. "Especially seeing the flags — I'm a very privileged guy. I'm the only [Mexican] guy in the bunch, so if you see this flag it's because of me. This is something that someone might feel like a pressure, but for me it feels like a real privilege."

Back at the team bus, unable to move to talk to Matxin or any other UAE staff, I thought I might as well chat to Del Toro's countrymen and women squashed in and around me — for the past 20 minutes, we'd been sharing each other's personal space, so we might as well share a few words as well.

Squidged in on my right, Naomi from Guadalajara, is at the Tour specifically because of her hero.

"In Mexico, he brings so much happiness to people — he is inspiring many generations. We are really happy for Del Toro," said Naomi, who will be back at the Tour to spectate on two ascents of Alpe d'Huez in the final week. If Del Toro can keep this form up, there could be even more to shout about for his fans.

On my left, Esteban, who is from Mexico City but now lives in Barcelona said: "He is doing a sport not many from Mexico do, so it is impressive that he is achieving his results and he has reached these goals in such a short time."

Del Toro's rise has been meteoric. Mexico's cycling scene had been in decline for decades, but with Torito leading a new wave of upcoming riders, the country's federation is aiming to put cycling back on the map. The country is certainly the centre of sporting attention currently. A Mexican wave has swept the Tour de France — can it continue through to the World Cup Quarter Final where the hosts take on England?

"I will watch it but it might be difficult," said Esteban. "There are points in favour of Mexico — the home advantage, the people — and well, this World Cup has had surprises…"

The World Cup has had some surprises, but was Del Toro's win today?

"A surprise on this stage — yes. I did not think it was his moment. But it is not a surprise that he won a Tour stage. He is so strong."

Strong like a bull.