Zagreb (Croatia), October 6th – CRO Race ends in Zagreb with Team Bahrain Merida taking another top result on the final stage - with Jan Tratnik (2nd) - and confirming top five overall – with Domen Novak (5th).
On paper stage 6 from Sveta Nedelja to Croatia’s capital city (154km) was one for the sprinters, but the cobbled climb before the finish made it harder and could open different scenario for the race. “For this reason we decided in the morning that I was today’s leader” Jan Tratnik explained commenting his second place, finishing only two seconds behind the winner Alessandro Fedeli (DMP), who took the win from the day’s breakaway.
“The team worked really well for me throughout the all day and also in the last two laps we were in the front group and everything went as planned” the Slovenian rider continued “The strategy was perfect except that one of the guys from the breakaway was able to stay away until the finish to take it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch him. I took second place and I’m satisfied with this result, but for sure I hoped to win. But that’s what it is, and I’ll try next time”.
Team Bahrain Merida Sports Director Gorazd Štangelj agrees with that overview of the race: “The idea was to win, so we’re a bit disappointed that we couldn’t catch the breakaway earlier. Tratnik and the team did everything perfectly. If they were all together in the finale, I believe that Jan’s late attack on the climb would have been the winning move for sure. All in all, we end this CRO Race with several top results in the stages and with a top five place overall. Considering that we missed our GC leader Matej MohoriÄ due to a crash, we can be satisfied”.
Domen Novak defended his 5th place in the general classification of the Croatian six-day race, that was won by Adam Yates (MTS).
(All pictures can be used for editorial and non commercial usages only and are copyright @Bettiniphoto @Team Bahrain Merida)
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