"One of the toughest days I've ever had on the bike" - Iván Romeo celebrates double victory on stage 3 of Dauphiné 2025

Iván Romeo delivered the ride of his young career on Stage 3 of the 2025 Criterium du Dauphiné, seizing a dramatic solo victory and moving into the overall race lead. The 21-year-old Movistar Team rider attacked from the breakaway and held off the chasers to cross the line 14 seconds clear — his biggest win to date and a breakthrough moment for Spanish cycling.

Romeo was visibly overwhelmed after the finish, struggling to process what he’d just accomplished. "Honestly, I don't know what to say — I still can't quite believe it," he said. "It was one of the toughest days I've ever had on the bike. The heat made it brutal. Getting into the break was really hard, but I felt strong and decided to take a risk." 

That risk paid off. Romeo timed his late move to perfection, dropping his companions from the lead group with a sharp attack in the closing kilometres. "In this kind of finish, with a small group, I trust my instinct," he explained. "When I saw the gap was down to a minute, I thought, ‘OK, now’s the time.’ I’d been thinking about this stage for over a month and prepared specifically for it."

Romeo was quick to credit his team for laying the foundations of the win. "The team did a fantastic job — we felt good from the very start. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Honestly, it’s the best day of the year for me. It just shows that hard work really does pay off."

He also reflected on the personal significance of the victory. "This one’s for everyone who supports me — my team, my coach Alexis who always believes in me, and especially my family. It’s been a bit of a rough patch lately. I started the season well, but the last few weeks have been tough. This win means everything. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. Now we keep pushing forward."

Romeo finished 14 seconds ahead of Harold Tejada, Louis Barré, and Florian Lipowitz. Mathieu van der Poel led in a chase group 27 seconds back, with the peloton arriving 1:08 down.

In the general classification, Romeo now wears the yellow jersey. Barré sits 17 seconds behind, Tejada is 18 seconds back, while top GC favourites Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel are all over a minute down.