CRO Race 2026: Preview and Favourites. Magnier and Cosnefroy Lead the Startlist

CRO Race 2026: Top Cycling Returns to Croatia The CRO Race is ready to get underway. The Croatian race, part of the ProSeries calendar, will start on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, with a route winding through the roads of Croatia. A race eagerly awaited by the whole cycling movement, which promises spectacle and battle on a course suited to complete riders and finisseurs. The Contenders at the Start The startlist for the 2026 CRO Race is of the highest level. Among the 129 verified entrants, there are names of absolute prominence from the WorldTour and ProSeries scenes. UAE Team Emirates - XRG fields a roster of great quality: Benoît Cosnefroy, Tim Wellens, Juan Sebastián Molano, Florian Vermeersch, Rui Oliveira, and Matteo Vanden Wijngaert. A team built to be a protagonist on multiple terrains. Bahrain - Victorious responds with Antonio Tiberi, Edoardo Zambanini, Fran Miholjević, Žak Eržen, Daniel Skerl, and Oliver Stockwell. Lidl - Trek relies on Andrea Bagioli, Edward Theuns, Mathias Sunekær Norsgaard, Tim Torn Teutenberg, Martin Pedersen, and Otto Vergaerde. Also watch out for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, fielding Daniel Felipe Martínez, Danny Van Poppel, Mick Van Dijke, Alessio Magagnotti, Adrien Boichis, Davide Donati, and Jarrad Drizners. Soudal Quick-Step relies on Paul Magnier, Ilan Van Wilder, Steff Cras, Louis Vervaeke, Dries Van Gestel, Joeri Schaper, and Lars Vanden Heede. Completing the luxury lineup are Uno-X Mobility with Erlend Blikra, Jonas Hem Hvideberg, Storm Ingebrigtsen, Martin Urianstad Bugge, Håkon Eiksund Øksnes, and Tobias Svarre; NSN Cycling Team with Riley Sheehan, Matis Louvel, Oded Kogut, Brady Gilmore, Zac Marriage, Roei Edinger, and Rotem Tene; and Bardiani CSF 7 Saber with Manuele Tarozzi, Lorenzo Conforti, Alessio Martinelli, Andrea Montagner, and Mattia Stenico. This Year's Results of the Protagonists Looking at the 2026 results history, valuable indications emerge about the form of the big names at the start. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) is undoubtedly one of the brightest profiles on the list: he took a stage win at the Okolo Slovenska / Tour de Slovaquie (stage 1), won a stage of the Lidl Deutschland Tour (stage 4), won the ADAC Cyclassics, and took second place in a stage of the Tour de Pologne (stage 2). A track record that makes him a top contender in Croatia as well. Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) arrives in excellent condition: he won the Gran Premio città di Peccioli - Coppa Sabatini, finished third at the Trofeo Matteotti, was fourth at the Lotto Grand Prix de Wallonie, and took fourth place in a stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men (stage 5). Andrea Bagioli (Lidl - Trek) showed notable form: he won a stage of the Tour of Austria (stage 4), was third in a stage of the Tour de Suisse (stage 1), and fifth at the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain. Riley Sheehan (NSN Cycling Team) took a stage win at the Czech Tour (stage 1), a second place in a stage of the Ethias-Tour de Wallonie (stage 4), and a third place in another stage of the same race (stage 2). Alessio Magagnotti (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) stood out with a second place in a stage of the ZLM Tour (stage 3), a second place in a stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne - Crédit Mutuel (stage 1), and a stage win at Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste (stage 1). Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) won a stage of the Arctic Race of Norway (stage 2) and took second place in a stage of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour (stage 3). Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain - Victorious) collected consistent placings: fifth in a stage of the Lidl Deutschland Tour (stage 4) and fourth in a stage of the Tour of Slovenia (stage 3). Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) took second place in a stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men (stage 5) and third at the E3 Saxo Classic. Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) won a stage of the Tour of Shanghai (stage 2) and placed fourth in a stage of Tirreno-Adriatico (stage 3). Oliver Stockwell (Bahrain - Victorious) took a stage win at the Tour of the Alps (stage 2), confirming his growing form. Paul Magnier won the ADAC Cyclassics in 2026, one of the most prestigious classics on the German calendar — source: CRO Race 2026 entrants' results history. The Favourites for Victory In light of the data, Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) is the brightest name among the entrants: his ability to win on mixed terrain and explosive finishes makes him the main reference. Behind him, Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) is a guarantee on short climbs and walls, typical CRO Race terrain, as shown by his Coppa Sabatini win and Trofeo Matteotti podium. Andrea Bagioli (Lidl - Trek) has the stamina for hilly stages and a fast finish that makes him dangerous in any scenario. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) is the most credible name for the general classification on a hilly route, thanks to his WorldTour-level climber profile. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain - Victorious) is another stage-race r