A little boy, at most five years old, is sitting on his fathers shoulders next to the media zone in Barcelona. Ten minutes have passed since Isaac del Toro stood on stage in the Tour de France team presentation, dressed in the Mexican champions jersey, beneath the spires of the Sagrada Famlia. The moment is historic: Del Toro is the first man from his country this century to compete at the race. For the little boy, that makes him a hero. Torito! he cries. The sound is piercing. No sooner have the ears of the people nearby recovered that another cry comes, and another, and another. Torito! the boys voice tires and quivers, as he waves a UAE Team Emirates-XRG cap. Una firma! a signature.The frenzy at this years Tour was supposed to surround Frances 19-year-old debutant Paul Seixas. And it surely will once the race enters France on Monday. But its Del Toro, Mexicos sweetheart, who has had the most admirers across the opening weekend. Now, not only is he the first Mexican to start the Tour since Miguel Arroyo in 1997 and only the third ever along with Raul Alcal hes also a stage winner. It only took him two days, winning on Montjic in Barcelona, and came in a swell of affection. Its a dream come true, Del Toro said in his post-race press conference. Its super special, especially because [the fans] make me feel like its a home race. You cannot believe how special it is to see the flags. Im a very privileged guy. Over the hill by the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team bus, Tadej Pogaar waded through 50 Mexican fans, who greeted him with a heros welcome. He slung a Mexican flag over his shoulders, and danced to the tune of their chanting.Second on the day, the world champion gifted the stage win to Del Toro. But it was the latter who crafted the perfect finale; charging down a descent, Del Toro whipped around Lidl-Treks Mattias Skjelmose and blasted up the 500m hill to the line. Fans Nayeli and Rene watched on in matching Mexico hats around halfway up. Nayeli and Rene flew in from Mexico to see Del Toro Tour debut. (Image credit: Tom Davidson)Swept up by Del Toro fever, the pair flew in specially from Mexico four days ago to support their national champion on his debut. Yesterday we were at the start of the team time trial for more than five hours with all the Mexicans, says Nayeli, 36. We liked cycling before, but Isaac del Toro awoke the passion in us to follow the Tour. Like Del Toro, this edition of the race is the pairs first. Its also their first time visiting Europe. We spent 2,500 to get here, Rene, 39, smiles. The victory certainly made it worth it. Does he think Del Toro could win the Tour in the future? Yes, Im sure of it, he says, and well be back here to see it. Some 100m further up the road, that same view was shared by Adrin, dressed in a Mexico football shirt. Hes from Mexico City originally, but has lived in Barcelona for three years, one of the around 4,500 Mexicans that live in the wider autonomous community of Catalonia. My dad was a cycling fan in the era of Arroyo and Alcal, Adrin, 42, says. For a while, we didnt really follow it, but now with Isaac were back following it again. As a national champion, hes inspiring so many people to take the same path. Adrin believes it's a matter of time before Del Toro wins the Tour. (Image credit: Tom Davidson)An hour later, Del Toro tore tear along the barrier beside Adrin, and under the flag he had hung from a long plastic tube. It was exactly the scene Adrin had wished for. This year I think hes going to win at least one stage, he said, a call born more out of optimism than clairvoyance. Id love him to win here in Barcelona, but, well, well see Im sure hes going to win the Tour one day. That day may now feel a little closer. But for the moment, Del Toro is a lieutenant in Pogaar's mission to win a fifth Tour, a team-mate buoyed by the joy of victory. Sundays stage win, though stamped with his name, was for all the fans that have come to support him: those wearing football shirts with Del Toro on the back, Nayeli, Rene and Adrin on the finish line, and the little boy at the team presentation, whose adoration for his hero just grew even stronger. Sitting in his press conference, Del Toro looks down at his Mexican champion's jersey, and stretches out the material, pulling it towards the journalists. Im the only guy in the bunch that, if you see this flag, [you recognise] its me, he says. Someone else might feel pressure, but I feel really privileged.. I will take this [win with me] for the rest of my life.