Juan Sebastián Molano won in a sprint the Split / Seget Donji, first stage of the CROrace 2026. The 31-year-old Colombian from UAE Team Emirates-XRG got the better of Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step and Tim Torn Teutenberg of Lidl-Trek, thus also claiming the first leader's jersey of the race. At the conclusion of the 167 kilometers on the program, three Italians also find themselves in the top ten finishers: Enrico Zanoncello (Bardiani CSF), fifth, Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious), seventh, and Gabriele Bessega (Team Polti VisitMalta), tenth.

The stage finale remained uncertain until 400 meters from the finish line: at that very point the main group caught Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello Q36.5) and Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi) who had launched their attack in the final fifteen kilometers of the race.

In the early part of the race, Gabriele Raccagni (Team Polti VisitMalta), Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Mihael Štajnar (Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana) and Mateusz Kostański (Wibatech Lubelskie Perła Polski) were the protagonists. Tomorrow the Croatian stage race will experience its second chapter: a 112-kilometer stage between Biograd na Moru and Novalja.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

1 Molano Sebastian UAE Team Emirates-XRG 25 03:58:06

2 Magnier Paul Soudal Quick-Step 15 + 00

3 Teutenberg Tim Torn Lidl-Trek 10 + 00

4 Erzen Zak Bahrain Victorious 5 + 00

5 Zanoncello Enrico Bardiani-CSF 7 Saber 3 + 00

6 Darder Sergi Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 00

7 Tiberi Antonio Bahrain Victorious + 00

8 Louvel Matis NSN Cycling Team + 00

9 McDonald Brody Modern Adventure Pro Cycling + 00

10 Bessega Gabriele Team Polti VisitMalta + 00