CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious are set to compete in CRO Race in Croatia, which returns for its 11th edition from today to Sunday.
The elite men’s six-stage event steps up to UCI Pro Series level for the first time. The promotion brings an increased level of international competition, with Bahrain Victorious arriving with ambitions across both the general classification (GC) and individual stage victories.
Covering approximately 940 kilometres from the Adriatic coast to Zagreb, the race offers a varied mix of sprint opportunities, rolling terrain, and demanding mountain stages. The team will be led in its GC challenge by Antonio Tiberi, while a versatile line-up gives Bahrain Victorious multiple options across the six days.
Tiberi will be supported by Fran Miholjevic , who brings valuable knowledge of the Croatian roads, while Zak Erzen and Daniel Skerl will lead the team’s challenge in the pure bunch sprints. Max van der Meulen is expected to play a key role in reduced bunch finishes, while Edoardo Zambanini offers an additional option on more selective stages. Oliver Stockwell completes the roster, providing strength and versatility in support of the team’s leaders.
Zambanini returns to Croatia with a particularly strong record at CRO Race. In the past two editions, he has finished second overall and fourth overall, while also recording three second-place stage finishes.
The opening stage from Split to Seget Donji is expected to offer an unpredictable start, before a fast and relatively flat second stage from Biograd na Moru to Novalja provides the first clear opportunity for the sprinters. Stage three, from Krk to Labin, introduces more demanding rolling terrain, while the following day’s queen stage from Pula to Rijeka is expected to have the biggest impact on the GC, with the peloton facing the demanding Ucka climb.
The penultimate stage from Karlovac to Sveta Nedelja is likely to favour a reduced bunch, while the race concludes with a circuit in Zagreb, offering another opportunity for the fast finishers.
Weather could also play a significant role, particularly along the exposed Adriatic sections where the Bora winds can create crosswinds and rapidly split the peloton. Positioning and concentration will therefore be crucial from the opening km.
“Our priority is the GC, especially at this stage of the season when we are looking to maximise our points,” said Bahrain Victorious head sports director Gorazd Stangelj. “At the same time, we will be aiming for stage victories.”
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