Columbian rider Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has won the first stage of the eleventh edition of CRO Race, beating Frenchman Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) and German Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek). The first stage of this year’s CRO Race started on Split’s Riva, and after a dozen kilometres a four-man breakaway split off from the peloton, consinsting of Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Gabriele Raccagni (Polti VisitMalta), Mihael Štajnar (Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana), and Mateusz Kostański (Wibatech Lubelskie Perła Polski).
The breakaway riders quickly racked up a gap of two minutes; by the first intermediate sprint in Dugopolje, this had grown to three minutes. Raccagni took the intermediate sprint at Dugopolje, followed by Maisonobe and Štajnar, while Maisonobe was first across the line at the second intermediate sprint in in Dugobabe 12.5 kilometres later, followed by Raccagni and Štajnar.
As the race approached the first categorised climb at Borzići, the breakaway’s gap began to shrink. Raccagni was first across the top ahead of Štajnar and Maisonobe, and first again at the first pass through Seget Donji ahead of Maisonobe and Kostanski.
By this point, led by teams Uno-X Mobility and Soudal Quick‑Step, the peloton brought the gap down to just over a minute. Immediately after the first pass over the line, the hardest climb of the day awaited towards Kovačevići, where the breakaway was finally reeled back in. The peloton caught them up 31 kilometres before the finish line.
Agirre wins the categorised climb; the Dutch try to take the sprinters by surprise
On the climb towards Kovačevići, Spaniard Jon Agirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attacked at the right moment and crossed the line first, ensuring he’d be wearing the green climber’s jersey at the start of stage two. Second was Pole Igor Sek (Wibatech Lubelskie Perła Polski) and third Italian Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber).
After the final categorised climb, the race entered its final stage, and just when it seemed a bunch sprint was in the cards, a duo of Dutchmen tried to seize the opportunity. Siverd Bax (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attacked and put themselves 20 seconds ahead of the peloton in the final 20 kilometres.
Their attack forced the sprinters’ teams into hot pursuit. The duo held out for a long time, but they were caught just 300 metres before the finish line, when it became clear the stage win would be decided in a bunch sprint.
Juan Sebastián Molano proved fastest, racking up his second win in 2026, but his first since February. This was also the Columbian’s second stage win at CRO Race—two years ago, he won in Novalja.
“I felt great on the climb, which was pretty fast. I had great support from my team, and I thank my teammates for their trust. I remember my win in Novalja two years ago and I hope I can repeat it again tomorrow. We came to this race with a strong team, and our candidate for the GC is Tim Wellens,” Molano said after his victory.
Molano’s win in Seget Donji puts him in the red GC leader’s jersey; he is also leading in the points contest, meaning he will be wearing the blue jersey for stage two.
The green climber’s jersey goes to Jon Agirre, while the white jersey for best young rider goes to Paul Magnier, who took second place in the first stage.
At the start of the first stage, 120 riders from 18 cycling teams lined up; this year’s CRO Race will connect various parts of Croatia through six stages and more than 1,000 kilometres of riding.
The second stage is set for Wednesday from Biograd na Moru to Novalja at a length of 114.5 kilometres.
This year’s CRO Race will last until 27 September, when the race finale will take place in Zagreb. In addition to the sporting aspect, this year’s race also plays an important role in promoting Croatia, as television broadcasts will bring images of Croatia’s cities, coastline, natural and cultural heritage to viewers worldwide.
CRO Race is held with the support of the Croatian government, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Croatian Tourist Board, the city of Zagreb, and numerous other cities and counties hosting stages. At the start of the first stage in Split, Split-Dalmatia County head Blaženko Boban, Vice Mayor of Split Ivo Bilić, and Director of Split Tourist Board Alijana Vukšić were in attendance, while the cyclists were greeted at the finish line in Seget by Head of Seget Donji Municipality Ivo Sorić and Director of Seget Municipality Tourist Board Adrijana Miloš.
