"It’s taken three years..." - Tobias Johannessen back to his winning ways; Alessandro Romele disappointed not to win at breakthrough Vuelta
CyclingSunday, 13 September 2026 at 22:50
The 2026 Vuelta a España has come to an end with a stage that provided the spotlight to two riders who have spent the entire three weeks on the attack. Tobias Johannessen took the victory on stage 21 ahead of an Alessandro Romele who was close to sealing his first Vuelta with a gold ribbon.
“I hadn’t expected at all to be able to win here today. We really wanted to make Cort’s last day special and do everything for him,” Johannessen said in the post-race interview. The Uno-X Mobility rider had twice finished second, and very little hinted at him taking the win this Sunday.
With the final lap of the stage in Granada being neutralized, the GC riders stopped racing once the pace upped on the second lap. A large group went off the front, including several Uno-X riders who attempted to make one final strike at the Spanish Grand Tour.
Andreas Leknessund had previously won stage 7, with Johannessen coming second. The Norwegian team sent six riders into the breakaway on stage 20, launching Johannessen perfectly, but coming away with a second place once again.
First win in three years for Johannessen
But the Norwegian, as if he hadn't ridden a massive stage all-out the previous day, still had the legs to be part of the action.
He was not on the attack on the climbs to Alhambra itself, but could respond to them. "After the final climb, I heard we were away in a group. At first, it looked like Cort might make it back, but when that didn’t happen, I really wanted to go for the win myself".
In the final kilometers, with Matthew Brennan being forced to cover moves, it provided the opportunity for his rivals after a few attempts. Johannessen was part of the winning attack.
In the final sprint, at the end of a fatiguing and slightly uphill finale, Johannessen defeated Romele in the final sprint. It was his first stage win since the 2023 Tour of Luxembourg.
“I’ve tried so many times. It’s taken three years, so it feels very special to win today.”
Tobias Johannessen at the Vuelta a España
“The plan was to lead Cort out for the final corner. So, I didn’t want to do anything at all until that last turn and only then go full gas. I can’t believe it worked.”
For Johannessen, the work of a race being rewarded on the very final day. “We had a very strong team in this Vuelta, though we also experienced plenty of ups and downs".
"We always gave it our all. Andreas’s victory was very special, just like my second-place finish on Sunday. Yesterday I was hugely disappointed that I hadn’t succeeded, so I’m so happy I could finish it off for the team today.”
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Romele on his breakthrough Vuelta
Romele, 23 years old and in his first ever Grand Tour, has finished on the Top10 of seven different stages at the Vuelta. Having turned pro in 2025, the Italian rider hadn't revealed himself to be a major potential until this very race.
“Right now, I’m just incredibly tired. I think I gave it my all today. I really did my best; I simply couldn't have done any better. So, I have no regrets," he said after finishing second to Johannessen.
Romele had already been second in Córdoba behind Wout Van Aert to wrap off the second week, and finished the third week at an equally high level. He was also third in the points classification as a result, only behind Van Aert and Matthew Brennan.
Although he packed a sprint, he knew that with Brennan close, a win could only come from an attack. “I tried to thin out the lead group [on the climb], but I thought they would catch back up. That didn't happen, so I was in the perfect position and gave it everything. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be.”
He found himself in the right move, but even his strong sprint at the line wasn't enough to bring the victory.
“The final kilometer was intense and nerve-wracking. In the finale, I had to anticipate moves and pray a little, but also follow the right wheels to save some energy. It was a tough race. We gave it our all along the way, but the rest in the coming weeks is more than welcome," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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