By completing the formality of the final stage without particular complications (the Sibiu-Sibiu 181-kilometer leg), Lorenzo Mark Finn has officially secured the Sibiu Tour 2026, putting his first victory in a professional stage race's general classification on the shelf.

Victorious at both hilltop finishes offered by the Romanian stage race, those at Paltinis and Balea Lac, the Under 23 World Champion concluded the four-day event in Transylvania by surpassing the tenacious South African Byron Munton (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling), second at 55", and British rider Mark Donovan (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), third at 1'46".

All three, given the terrain that was not particularly favorable to them, logically withdrew from the final stage which, in a sprint finish, was won by Danny van Poppel (Red Bull BORA hansgrohe) ahead of teammate Davide Donati and Oded Kogut (NSN), with Simone Buda (Somme-Olmo) in fourth.

THE RACE

From the gun, Pablo Torres (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Tomas Pridal (Team United Shipping), Julian Borresch (Rembe rad net) and Andrin Züger (Run & Race-Solarpur) break away from the group. The four travel for a long time with a lead of several dozen seconds over a peloton that remains animated by attacks and counterattacks, and with this situation they reach the flying finish at Nochrich (won by Torres) after which seven men attack in pursuit of the quartet.

The mission succeeds a few kilometers later when, with the arrival of Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Jarrad Drizners (Red Bull BORA hansgrohe), Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello-Q36.5), Philip Heijnen (Azerion-Villa Valkenburg), Kiaan Watts (NSN), Gianni Marchand (Tartelletto-Isorex) and Andrei Carbunarea (Romania), an eleven-man group forms at the front with a margin of over two minutes. The agreement, however, doesn't last long because Marchand and Torres insist in turn and, joined shortly after by Oliveira and Watts, drop their other breakaway companions leaving them to inevitable reabsorption by the group.

The new quartet at the front then proceeds decisively, climbing the first categorized climb of the day and the second flying finish (both won by Torres) and, with a two-minute advantage, continues to push, fueling the dream of being able to fight for the stage victory. Red Bull BORA hansgrohe, however, leaves no room for the escapees and by moving to the front first contains and then nullifies their margin at -13km from the finish, setting the stage for a sprint finish that is resolved with the van Poppel-Donati one-two ahead of Kogut, Buda and Márko Tóth (Team United Shipping).

VAN POPPEL'S STATEMENTS

"I like to act as the last man so the original plan was to lead out Donati's sprint. At the base of the concluding slight uphill stretch, however, Kogut went full gas and at that point I realized it would be really difficult to move as we had planned, so I launched myself at full speed and in the end, even though it was very difficult to catch him, we finished fantastically with first and second" the Dutchman told our microphones after his first victory of the season, his twenty-fifth as a professional.

"Overall it's been a wonderful week. I'm obviously thrilled about my victory but also about being able to teach something to the younger guys and at the same time, albeit in a different way, learn something from them as well. They're all so motivated and that in turn motivates me too, just like it happened today. Next appointments? Now I'll take a few days off, then I should do the Tour of Poland and the Vuelta with Jordi Meeus I hope. It's not entirely certain yet but the schedule should be that" concluded the 2025 Dutch road champion.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Danny van Poppel (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) 3:45:02

2. Davide Donati (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) s.t.

3. Oded Kogut (NSN Development Team) s.t.

4. Simone Buda (Solme - Olmo - Arvedi) at 0:02

5. Márko Tóth (Team United Shipping) s.t.

6. Alin Toader (Romania) s.t.

7. Joseph Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) s.t.

8. Luke Verburg (BIKE AID) s.t.

9. Kristiāns Belohovščiks (Azerion / Villa Valkenburg) s.t.

10. Timothy Dupont (Tarteletto - Isorex) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Lorenzo Finn Mark (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) 10:07:18

2. Byron Munton (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) at 0:55

3. Mark Donovan (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) at 1:46

4. Wout Poels (Unibet Rose Rockets) at 2:07

5. Iván Ramiro Sosa (Equipo Kern Pharma) at 2:42

6. Kyrylo Tsarenko (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) at 2:55

7. Walter Calzoni (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) at 2:58

8. Adrià Pericas (Unibet Rose Rockets) at 3:03

9. Jannis Peter (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) at 3:13

10. Pablo Torres (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) at 3:49

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Matias Malmberg (Swatt Club)

Mountain Classification: Lorenzo Finn Mark (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe)

Best Young Rider Classification: Lorenzo Finn Mark (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe)

Best Team: Unibet Rose Rockets

Photo credit: Focus Photos Agency