Ruta del Sol 2026: Romeo doubles up with solo win

foto: Cor VosIván Romeo and Andreas Leknessund launch an attack on a big climb in the first half of the race. They keep the chasing peloton at bay, after which the Spanish champion drops the Norwegian in the final two kilometres. As a bonus, Romeo takes the leader’s jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2026 Ruta del Sol

1. Iván Romeo (spa) 3:27:12
2. Andreas Leknessund (nor) + 0:07
3. Alex Aranburu (spa) + 0:54
4. Jan Christen (swi) s.t.
5. Iván Cobo (spa) s.t.
6. Alessandro Fancellu (ita) s.t.
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
8. Adrien Boichis (fra) s.t.
9. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
10. Romain Gregoire (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Iván Romeo (spa)
2. Andreas Leknessund (nor) + 0:07
3. Fred Wright (gbr) + 0:54
4. Bastien Tronchon (fra) s.t.
5. Alex Aranburu (spa) s.t.
6. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
8. Alessandro Fancellu (ita) s.t.
9. Jon Barrenetxea (spa) s.t.
10. Adrien Boichis (fra) s.t.

Race report
Following more than 10 kilometres of relentless attacks, Ion Izagirre, Javier Ibáñez, Haimar Etxeberria, Josh Burnett, Iker Gómez, Gari Ugarte, Michiel Lambrecht, Edison Alejandro Callejas and Giosuè Epis finally force a break and carve out a small advantage. The peloton refuses to let them go, and by the time the road starts to rise towards the Puerto de la Cabra, their attempt is over. Burnett then has another go, this time joined by Ibai Azanza and José Antonio Prieto.

As soon as they hit the climb proper, the trio are more than 2 minutes clear. Before reaching the summit, Iván Romeo and Andreas Leknessund move up to replace Azanza and Prieto. On the plateau beyond the top, they hold roughly a one-minute advantage over the first chasing group. Overall leader Christophe Laporte sits 45 seconds further back in the peloton.

While the three leaders extend their advantage to 3 minutes, the riders behind them come back together.

Leknessund and Romeo drop Burnett in the final 37 kilometres. The leaders’ advantage at that point is still just over 2 minutes.

On the final climb, with the summit 11 kilometres from the finish, Leknessund and Romeo reach the top more than 1 minute ahead of the stretched-out peloton. The difference then stretches slightly once more.

In the gently rising finale, Romeo shakes Leknessund off his wheel and rides solo to a double: the stage win and the leader’s jersey. Just under 1 minute later, Alex Aranburu wins the peloton sprint.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2026 Ruta del Sol.