Description
September 22, 2026
11th CRO Race 2026 🇭🇷 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Split – Seget Donji : 167 km
CRO Race is a multi-stage road race across Croatia,
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September 22, 2026
11th CRO Race 2026 🇭🇷 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Split – Seget Donji : 167 km
CRO Race is a multi-stage road race across Croatia, combining coastal roads, rolling countryside, forested hills and demanding mountain terrain over a series of stages. The route typically alternates between fast flat sections along the Adriatic and inland stages featuring repeated climbs, long descents and changing gradients. Mountain roads can include sustained ascents around 5–8%, with steeper sections providing short bursts of intense effort. Narrow roads, tight bends and technical descents demand precise positioning and confident bike handling, while exposed coastal sections can introduce crosswinds. Racing often begins with breakaway attempts before the peloton settles into a controlled rhythm, with the harder climbs gradually reducing the field. Groups may regroup on descents and flatter roads, creating repeated changes in the tactical situation. Sprinters can contest flatter stages, while climbers and all-round riders become more important on mountainous days. The overall race combines endurance, climbing, positioning and time management, with finishes ranging from bunch sprints to reduced-group battles and solo attacks.
After a tight chase which saw a two-man breakaway survive into the final 300 metres, Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) stormed to victory from a bunch sprint to win stage 1 of the CRO Race in Seget Donji.
Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel Euskadi) and Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello Q36.5) attacked away in the last 20km, and after flying down the rapid descent into the finale, almost made it to the line, with the bunch just catching them in sight of the line.
Uno-X Mobility had led into the last 500 metres, but a perfectly-timed rush to the front from Ivo Oliveira delivered Molano into the front position with 150 metres to sprint.
Pre-stage favourite Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) was coming quickly from behind and threatening to snatch the victory, but he was blocked up the inside first by UAE, then again by Žak Eržen (Bahrain Victorious) as he tried to come out of the Colombian’s slipstream.
In the end, Magnier’s power still saw him finish second behind Molano, despite having to take several different lines to find a lane to sprint from, with Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek) finishing third, and Eržen taking fourth on Tuesday.
The Colombian’s success brought UAE Team Emirates-XRG their 74th victory of the 2026 season, and his second, adding to a stage he won at the Tour of Oman back in February.
Results :
 ME - Stage 1 </strong> - Split - Seget Donji : 167 km
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CRO Race is a multi-stage road race across Croatia, combining coastal roads, rolling countryside, forested hills and demanding mountain terrain over a series of stages. The route typically alternates between fast flat sections along the Adriatic and inland stages featuring repeated climbs, long descents and changing gradients. Mountain roads can include sustained ascents around 5–8%, with steeper sections providing short bursts of intense effort. Narrow roads, tight bends and technical descents demand precise positioning and confident bike handling, while exposed coastal sections can introduce crosswinds. Racing often begins with breakaway attempts before the peloton settles into a controlled rhythm, with the harder climbs gradually reducing the field. Groups may regroup on descents and flatter roads, creating repeated changes in the tactical situation. Sprinters can contest flatter stages, while climbers and all-round riders become more important on mountainous days. The overall race combines endurance, climbing, positioning and time management, with finishes ranging from bunch sprints to reduced-group battles and solo attacks.
After a tight chase which saw a two-man breakaway survive into the final 300 metres, Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) stormed to victory from a bunch sprint to win stage 1 of the CRO Race in Seget Donji.
Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel Euskadi) and Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello Q36.5) attacked away in the last 20km, and after flying down the rapid descent into the finale, almost made it to the line, with the bunch just catching them in sight of the line.
Uno-X Mobility had led into the last 500 metres, but a perfectly-timed rush to the front from Ivo Oliveira delivered Molano into the front position with 150 metres to sprint.
Pre-stage favourite Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) was coming quickly from behind and threatening to snatch the victory, but he was blocked up the inside first by UAE, then again by Žak Eržen (Bahrain Victorious) as he tried to come out of the Colombian's slipstream.
In the end, Magnier's power still saw him finish second behind Molano, despite having to take several different lines to find a lane to sprint from, with Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek) finishing third, and Eržen taking fourth on Tuesday.
The Colombian's success brought UAE Team Emirates-XRG their 74th victory of the 2026 season, and his second, adding to a stage he won at the Tour of Oman back in February.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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