Due to strong winds, the second stage of the Tour of Croatia was shortened to just 51 kilometers. The original finish was planned in Novalja, but crossing a bridge would not have been safe in these conditions, so the stage eventually concluded at one of the intermediate sprints.
In the finale, Team United Shipping worked for Mihajlo Stolić, who managed to stay on the wheel of eventual stage winner Paul Magnier until the very end. However, our Serbian sprinter was closed in during the decisive moments and ultimately finished 26th. Michal Schuran still leads the KOM classification.
Mihajlo after the sprint:
“I was waiting for the original sprint finish in Novalja. That would have suited me much better. However, with the stage shortened to 51 kilometers and ending with a 7 km uphill finish, I had to adapt to the conditions. I was in a good position and on the right wheel among WorldTour riders, but I lost some energy fighting for the places. Still, I gave everything I had on the climb. The team rode very well today, staying at the front of the bunch alongside WorldTour squads throughout the stage, right up until the final 7 kilometers when the climb began.”
Zsombor Palumby on the short day:
“If we had raced the full original stage, the crosswinds would definitely have taken their toll on my 60 kilo body, so I actually felt a bit relieved that the stage was shorter in the end. There had already been rumors that the stage might be shortened or even canceled, but only about 20–30 minutes after the team presentation they told us the start would be delayed and the course shortened. So, we sat around in full kit for another two hours, ate, and then did an intense warm-up. Everyone took it seriously. Other teams were going full gas on the turbo trainers too.
The stage itself wasn’t such a big deal. The route was relatively sheltered by trees, and there was also a long tailwind section. The last 7 kilometers were brutal—fast and chaotic. The uphill finish was a bit too much for Mihajlo, and he also got boxed in, but he fought hard and placed well. My feelings were okay, though I felt a bit sluggish after all the waiting. Fortunately, once the race got going, I managed to switch on and stay fully focused.”
