The peloton is nearing Zagreb at the 2025 CRO Race. After Friday’s queen stage, today offered a slightly easier route, but under UAE’s control, the race was still made tough. No rider from Team United Shipping made it into the day’s breakaway, and the peloton easily caught the attackers anyway.
At the start of the rolling, hilly finale, the major teams ramped up the pace, and Team United Shipping found itself on the wrong side of the split — none of our riders made it into the front group.
The stage was won by Paul Magnier, while Brandon McNulty leads the general classification after his excellent performance on Friday. The best placed TUS rider is Michal Schuran, currently 63rd in the GC.
Máté Endrédi on the CRO Race:
“Our plan for today was to make it into the breakaway. Early on, basically all of us tried. I was in several moves and we managed to get a gap a few times, but we weren’t there when the decisive attack went that eventually formed the day’s break. After that, things calmed down until the climb. UAE set a hard pace on the ascent, and that’s when a number of riders got dropped. I made a mistake by starting the climb too far back in the bunch, but I managed to get back to the front group. With about 2 km to go before the top of the climb, Schuran and I got dropped, and we finished in a strong chase group, about two minutes down. I can feel that we’re getting tired as the season finishes, but the mood is great, and the shape is still good. There’s only one day left — we’re motivated.”
Zétény Szíjártó’s thoughts:
“A few of us tried to get into the breakaway, but we didn’t succeed. The team’s spirit hasn’t changed — everyone feels good — but we can definitely feel that it’s been a long season, and the fatigue of the race too, especially after yesterday’s queen stage. That was a tough day; everyone gave their best for as long as they could, but none of us managed to finish near the front. The level here is really high. I wouldn’t call this the race of my life — I’m not in top form — and coming right after the illness I picked up at the Tour of Romania. I’m still not quite back to my best. But I’ve reached a reasonably acceptable level again — just not enough for this field.”
