ZAGREB, 20 September 2023 – The eighth edition of the CRO Race international cycling race, scheduled for 26 September to 1 October, was presented today at a press conference. In addition to the race’s organisers, race director Vladimir Miholjević and technical director Luka Mišović, the race presentation also included Milan Pavelić, representative of the mayor of Zagreb and assistant head of Zagreb’s Office for Education, Sport, and Youth, Josip Pavić, special adviser to the minister of sport, and Dubravko Šimenc, specialist coordinator from the Croatian Tourist Board’s Strategic Marketing Projects division. The event was also attended by Dario Zurovec, MP and mayor of Sveta Nedelja, and Ivan Dabo, mayor of Novalja.
This year’s race will host 18 international cycling teams from Europe, Asia, America, and Australia, six of which will be from the WorldTeams category. CRO Race will consist of six stages across a course of nearly 1,000 kilometres throughout Croatia, allowing the riders to enjoy the natural beauty of some familiar destinations, as well as a few new ones. The biggest news is that this year’s CRO Race will be coming to two Croatian islands – Krk and Pag. The race stages will be as follows: 1. Primošten – Sinj (181 km), 2. Biograd na Moru – Novalja (114.5 km), 3. Otočac – Opatija (133.5 km), 4. Krk – Labin (191 km), 5. Crikvenica – Ozalj (189 km), and 6. Samobor – Zagreb (157.5 km). The finish line of the final stage and the announcement of the winner of the general classification will be in front of the National and University Library in Hrvatska bratska zajednica street in Zagreb.
A total of 126 cyclists are currently registered for the race, and amongst the well-known teams competing, five from the UCI WorldTeams category stand out: Bahrain Victorious, Ineos Grenadiers, Lidl-Trek, Team DSM-Firmenich, and Team Jayco Alula. Two Croats will also be competing – Fran Miholjević (Bahrain Victorious) and Viktor Potočki (Ljubljana Gusto Santic). All riders will be fighting for the red chequered jersey, which is worn by the rider leading the general classification; there will also be awards for the rider with the most points, the king of the mountains, the best young rider (under 23), and best team.
The race organiser, Top Sport Events, has turned this event into a recognisable project over the years, strengthening both its sporting position and its tourist potential. “CRO Race began back in 2015, and the idea to organise this kind of race was driven by enthusiasm, love of cycling, and the belief that Croatia deserves to have this kind of international sporting event. From the very start, it was clear that this project was full of potential, and now that we’ve come to the eighth edition of the race, we can proudly say that much of this potential has been realised, creating opportunities for us to develop the race even further. Today, CRO Race is a respectable sporting event, one that contains a powerful element of promotion for our country. Numerous sponsors have accompanied us on the path of CRO Race’s growth and development. It was they who recognised the true value of the race and who pushed us to become better and better every year. I’m convinced that this year’s edition of the race will meet the expectations of cycling fans everywhere, and that we will all enjoy an unforgettable six days of professional sport, accompanied by unforgettable shots of Croatia’s stunning beauty,” notes Vladimir Miholjević, race director of CRO Race.
As in previous years, the race will be broadcast daily by Croatian Radiotelevision; it will also be broadcast live on Eurosport. Thanks to cooperation with A.S.O., the race will be broadcast on six continents – Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia – in a total of 130 countries.
This year’s CRO Race will offer much excitement, including the fourth edition of the Kids CRO Race virtual kids’ race, the goal of which is to inspire as many children as possible to take up recreational sport and to generate awareness of the positive impact of cycling on the health of both individuals and society as a whole. There is also an emphasis on promoting and developing low-carbon, sustainable, and environmentally low-impact modes of transport. The Kids CRO Race will be held at the race start in Primošten and in the stage finish cities – Sinj, Novalja, Opatija, Labin, Ozalj, and Zagreb. The best riders will be announced daily, and the best young cyclist in the general classification will be announced at the closing ceremonies in Zagreb.
Since its first edition, CRO Race has been supported by the highest government institutions in Croatia. This year, support comes from the Croatian government, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Croatian Tourist Board, the city of Zagreb, and numerous other cities and counties hosting stage starts or finishes or through which the race will be passing. In addition to Hrvatska elektroprivreda electricity company as one of the main sponsors, the project includes numerous other sponsors and partners: Lošinj Hotels & Villas, Valamar Riviera, Carwiz, Keindl Sport, Alé, Essperto, Elite, Rouvy, Vinistra, Cetina, Bilić-Erić, On Running, Thomas Henry, Old Pilot’s, Jadrolinija, Maslinica Rabac, Europlakat, the Croatian Olympic Committee, the Croatian Cycling Union, Zagrebački holding, JANAF, the Croatian Police, the National Road Traffic Safety Plan, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, and Croatian Radiotelevision’s media and production partners, Sportske novosti, Amaury Sport Organisation, Croatel, and NEP Group.
The crystal statuette which will be presented to the winner at the final ceremony in Zagreb, is signed by the renowned painter, designer and musician Ivica Propadalo.
You can download photos from the official FTP server https://crorace.iwert.com. Please credit photos to Sport-IT.
If you use photos from the folder entitled Mario Stiehl photography, please credit them to Mario Stiehl. More information about the race, teams, cyclists, etc. will be available on the official sites on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
