Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Sebastian Molano gave UAE Team Emirates-XRG the perfect start to the CRO Race by winning the opening stage, a 167-kilometre ride from Split to Seget Donji.
The Colombian produced a long sprint from around 300 metres out after Rui Oliveira executed the lead-out perfectly. Molano then held off a fast-finishing Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step to claim victory and take the leader’s jersey in the six-day race opener. Tim Torn Teutenberg of Lidl-Trek took third.
Molano said: “It was a really good day for us and I’m very happy to finish it off with the win. The team did a great job throughout the stage. Nils [Politt] did a lot of work to help bring the attackers back and then in the final Rui [Oliveira] was incredible. He brought me into the perfect position and from there I knew I had to commit to the sprint. For me he’s the best leadout man around.
“I went quite early, around 300 metres to go, so it was a long sprint and I could feel Magnier coming quickly at the end. Thankfully I had enough to hold on. It’s a great way to start the race and a victory we can all enjoy together as a team. I love racing here in Croatia and we can go for the GC also with Tim Wellens.”
Earlier, a four-rider breakaway of Sam Maisonobe, Gabriele Raccagni, Mihael Štajnar and Mateusz Kostański built a lead of around two minutes before being caught with just over 30km remaining.
Axel van der Tuuk and Sjoerd Bax then attacked inside the final 20km and still held a 15-second advantage with 9km to go. UAE Team Emirates-XRG, led by Politt, drove the chase and swept them up with around 400 metres left, setting up the sprint which Oliveira timed perfectly for Molano.
The win is Molano’s second career stage victory at the CRO Race.
