CRO Race returns today with world-class teams and six-stage route
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
(Photo: CRO Race)
Croatia’s international cycling spotlight turns to the roads today as the 11th edition of CRO Race gets underway, bringing six stages and almost 1,000 kilometres of racing from Split to Zagreb.
The race begins on Tuesday, 22 September with the opening stage from Split to Seget Donji. It will continue through some of Croatia’s best-known coastal and inland destinations before finishing in Zagreb on Sunday, 27 September.
This year’s event marks a new stage in the development of CRO Race, which has entered the UCI ProSeries category for the first time.
The 2026 route includes Split–Seget Donji on the opening day, followed by Biograd na Moru–Novalja on 23 September. Riders will then travel from Krk to Labin on 24 September, before the fourth stage connects Pula and Rijeka.
The fifth stage on 26 September runs from Karlovac to Sveta Nedelja, with the final stage taking riders from Samobor to Zagreb.
The organisers say 12 teams that competed at this year’s Tour de France are taking part, alongside other international professional teams.
The race is also designed to showcase Croatia beyond the competition itself. Its route links the coast with inland Croatia and passes through destinations ranging from Dalmatian cities and islands to Istria, Kvarner and the Zagreb region.
CRO Race organisers say the event reaches an international television audience and provides an opportunity to present Croatian landscapes, towns and cultural attractions to viewers abroad.
There will also be a Kids CRO Race programme, with young participants able to take part in virtual cycling events at stage finish locations.
(Photo: CRO Race)
Drivers should also be aware of temporary traffic restrictions. Police say roads will generally remain open but traffic can be stopped shortly before and during the passage of the race. On some roads, vehicles travelling in the opposite direction may be stopped for up to 30 minutes before riders arrive.
The first stage today will affect roads in Split-Dalmatia County, with particularly significant restrictions around Split and the Prgomet area.
