Alessandro Romele's 2025 did not go as the XDS Astana rider had hoped. Not because of his fault, but because of that unfortunate fall during the Italian road championship in Gorizia, Friuli, where Romele suffered abrasions and severe pain in his right hand. Initially, this did not raise more concern than expected for the young rider from Bergamo, who now lives in Borgo Maggiore, Republic of San Marino.

"It was truly an unlucky national championship race that ultimately conditioned my entire season," recalls Romele, 22 years old. "One terrible fall was enough to put me out of action, and I found myself in an ambulance heading to the first hospital. Initial tests and routine X-rays had shown an edema near the scaphoid. It seemed like nothing, and yet... After treatment, I returned home and started training at altitude for the second part of the season".

How did you manage the hand pain?
"The pain was present but bearable, like an inflamed tendon. I didn't let myself get discouraged and continued training, trying to improve my condition in preparation for my return to racing".

What happened in August at the Tour of Poland:
"Exactly. It was the worst moment. My hand was hurting so much that I couldn't grip the handlebars in the last 30-40 kilometers of the race. Meanwhile, after further tests, the report came that it was a fracture of the hamate bone, which is a wrist bone injury. However, I managed to complete the Tour of Poland, and from there, my season was practically over".

Romele stopped training on September 3rd, and on the 23rd of the same month, he was operated on by Professor Stefano Galli at the Brescia Hospital.
"Perhaps I should have immediately opted for a CT scan rather than an MRI. But hindsight is always 20/20".

A season to forget for Romele, who will continue to defend the colors of XDS Astana also in 2026 (his last year with the Kazakh team).
"I have a huge desire for redemption. The past season was personally disappointing and unfortunate. The fall at the Italian championship still weighs on me, but it's part of our profession. I look to 2026 with confidence and full of hope. I'll try to restart by finding confidence in myself, trying to express what I couldn't express this year".