“I can be proud of myself”: Alessandro Romele savours breakthrough Vuelta result after finishing second to Van Aert
Cycling
Alessandro Romele came closer than ever to the biggest victory of his young professional career on Sunday, finishing second behind Wout van Aert on stage 15 of the Vuelta a España. The XDS Astana Team rider was part of the five-man group that survived the late attacks in Córdoba, but ultimately had no answer to the Belgian's finishing speed.
The 23-year-old Lombard is racing his first Grand Tour and has already produced a string of impressive performances in Spain. Before Sunday's runner-up finish, he had placed fourth, fifth and eighth on stages, establishing himself as one of the most consistent young riders in the race.
The circumstances made the result even more significant. Stage 15 had been shortened dramatically because of extreme heat, but the reduced distance did not make the racing any easier. The peloton raced aggressively from the start before the decisive selection was made, eventually leaving Romele alongside Van Aert, Thibau Nys, Ramses Debruyne and Andreas Leknessund to fight for victory.
Finishing second to a rider of Van Aert's calibre was therefore something Romele could take considerable satisfaction from, even if his first professional victory remains elusive. “I can be proud of myself,” Romele said after the finish. “Finishing second behind Wout van Aert is something I could only have dreamed of a year ago.”
Van Aert won stage 15 of the Vuelta a España 2026
Romele survives a brutal day in the heat
The Italian admitted that the intensity of the stage made his result even more difficult to achieve. Despite being reduced to just 110.2 kilometres after almost 80 kilometres were removed from the original route because of the extreme temperatures, the stage was raced at an extraordinary pace.
“It was a very tough stage, considering the high temperatures and the calibre of the riders I faced. We rode at a crazy pace, especially considering it's the end of the second week of a Grand Tour,” Romele explained.
The fight for the breakaway had started almost immediately, while Team Visma | Lease a Bike eventually took control on the Puerto Artafi. Their pace-setting shattered the peloton and helped create the conditions for the small group that would eventually decide the stage.
Romele had to be alert when the opportunity presented itself. After Van Aert accelerated following the intermediate sprint, the Italian managed to follow the Belgian and join the riders ahead. The five-man group then quickly established a decisive advantage over the chasers.
“We knew from the start that it would be a tough stage and that there would be a lot of fighting from the first kilometre to the finish,” Romele said. “At the intermediate finish line, I tried to get ahead of Wout, and we realised it was a good time to go after those ahead. Then we did a sort of team time trial.”
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Van Aert proves too strong in the finale
The XDS Astana rider's strategy was straightforward: remain attached to the strongest rider in the group and hope that he could find a way to surprise him in the sprint. “In the finale, I tried to play my cards by holding onto Van Aert's wheel, but he was the strongest,” Romele admitted.
The Italian still believed he might have a chance if Van Aert committed early to the sprint. Romele waited for his opportunity, hoping that fatigue could level the playing field after such an aggressive stage. “I tried, hoping perhaps for a slightly long sprint from Van Aert,” he said.
That scenario never materialised. Van Aert timed his effort perfectly, while Romele found himself running out of energy in the closing metres. “But in the last 50 metres, I had no energy left, I had to sit back, and yesterday's breakaway probably also had an impact. But, precisely for this, I can be really proud of myself,” he explained.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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