Bahrain Victorious took another podium spot after the third stage of the CRO Race yesterday with Matej Mohoric’s third place atop Primošten, and the GC leader’s red jersey defended by Jonathan Milan.
After two days for the sprinters, the GC contenders were expected to start battling for the leadership on the 157km hilly course from Sinj to Primosten, featuring a steep final kilometre with the last 500 metres at 14 per cent average and partly gravel from 700m to 400m to the finish line (10-12pc).
As in the previous days, the team worked hard to keep the race under control. DamianoCaruso supported the GC men Mohoric and Santiago Buitrago and protected Milan towards the finale. Then it came to the showdown of the brutal ascent to Primosten.
Milan showed how much he wanted to keep the race leadership, entering the gravel part in front and keeping first position as long as possible on the dirt road. When the gradient became steeper, Buitrago and Mohoric joined the front of the race.
Milan held on and even tried to attack again, but then he had to give up, with 50m to go, under the strong acceleration of Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) and Onley (DSM), who crossed the finish line in first and second place, respectively. Only Mohoric was strong enough to keep the pace with the duo and finished in third at 2″.
Milan took an impressive fifth place, retaining the leader’s jersey with one second on Tour de France winner Vingegaard. He also kept the lead in the young and points classifications.
He said: “It was pretty hard in the final, as it was also windy like on all the stage. The ascent was super steep. For me, it is my first time on the gravel. It was something special.”
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