Second day of racing and second sprint finish at the Tour of Slovenia 2026. As happened 24 hours ago, the Radlje ob Dravi-Ormož stage of 181 kilometers was decided with a sprint at semi-compact ranks which, unlike yesterday, did not reward Laurence Pithie but rather Dusan Rajovic (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali), first across the line ahead of the New Zealand rider from Red Bull BORA hansgrohe, Nikiforos Arvanitou (Team United Shipping) and Enrico Zanoncello (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber).

Pithie, racing today in the green jersey of general classification leader, nonetheless consoled himself by maintaining first position in the standings where, thanks to bonuses gained at the finish line, he now holds a margin of 9 seconds over Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel Euskadi) and 10" over his teammate Arne Marit.

THE RACE

Like yesterday, the stage was characterized by a breakaway that started after the very first kilometers of racing. Composed of Gal Oblak (Factor Racing), Marcel Skok (Novo Mesto Cycling), Mihael Štajnar (Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana), Zsombor Palumby (Team United Shipping) and Kacper Majewski (Wibatech Lubelskie Perła Polski), the move (never with more than three minutes advantage) continued until 40 kilometers from the finish when, entering the more rolling section of today's course, the peloton neutralized it.

The latter, pulled by Red Bull BORA hansgrohe, then approached at a very sustained pace the Jeruzalem climb before which, however, a nasty crash involving 5 riders shook up the race's rhythm. Once the first riders reached the top of the climb located 33 km from the finish, the race jury first neutralized and then momentarily suspended the race due to lack of ambulances (all engaged in assisting the fallen riders) following the race.

After the race was restarted about half an hour later, the team of Laurence Pithie and Arne Marit (first and second yesterday) immediately resumed setting the pace at the head of a peloton composed of no more than fifty riders which, without further incidents, then went on to contest the stage victory in a sprint.

Here, after failing yesterday to keep pace with the best and consequently unable to play his cards, Dusan Rajovic displayed all the power of the pure sprinter he possesses and, keeping behind him the confirmed general classification leader Pithie, Arvanitou and Zanoncello, secured his 24th career victory among professionals, the 12th this year counting also races at the .2 level.

In terms of Italian interest, beyond the sixteenth seasonal victory for Solution Tech NIPPO Rali (by far the most prolific Italian team in 2026), also noteworthy are the further top-ten finishes by Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain-Victorious), sixth today after finishing third yesterday at the Rogaška Slatina finish line, and Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) who, having come close to the podium 24 hours earlier, today closed in tenth position.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Dusan Rajovic (SRB/Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) - 4:36:49

2. Laurence Pithie (NZL/Red Bull BORA hansgrohe) - s.t.

3. Nikiforos Arvanitou (GRE/Team United Shipping) - s.t.

4. Enrico Zanoncello (ITA/Bardiani CSF 7Saber) - s.t.

5. Xabier Berasategi (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) - s.t.

6. Edoardo Zambanini (ITA/Bahrain-Victorious) - s.t.

7. Ben Oliver (NZL/Modern Adventure) - s.t.

8. Marcin Budzinski (POL/MBH Bank CSB Telecom-Fort) - s.t.

9. Iván Cobo (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) - s.t.

10. Stefano Oldani (ITA/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) - s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Laurence Pithie (NZL/Red Bull BORA hansgrohe) - 7:50:43

2. Axel van der Tuuk (NED/Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 0:09

3. Arne Marit (BEL/Red Bull BORA hansgrohe) at 0:10

4. Edoardo Zambanini (ITA/Bahrain-Victorious) at 0:12

5. Tomáš Přidal (CZE/Team United Shipping) at 0:12

6. Xabier Berasategi (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 0:16

7. Iván Cobo (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) at 0:16

8. Stefano Oldani (ITA/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) at 0:16

9. Lorenzo Masciarelli (ITA/MBH Bank CSB Telecom-Fort) at 0:16

10. Francisco Muñoz (SPA/Team Polti VisitMalta) at 0:16

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Laurence Pithie (NZL/Red Bull BORA hansgrohe)

Mountain classification: Zsombor Palumby (HUN/Team United Shipping)

Best young rider classification: Tomáš Přidal (CZE/Team United Shipping)