Rui Oliveira sprints to second on stage 5 of the CRO Race

Rui Oliveira sprinted to second place on stage 5 of the CRO Race, with the Portuguese rider surviving the last climb and giving it a nudge in the bunch kick for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

The penultimate day of racing in Croatia was to be defined by a pair of category two climbs inside the final 40km, but in truth, neither ascent proved difficult enough to spark fireworks. Instead, it was all about the sprinters cresting the final climb with a manageable gap to the front, before contesting the day’s honours between them.

As such, Oliveira turned himself inside out to stay in contact over the Plesivica (8.5km at 4.8%), before regathering his strengths as the peloton swelled towards the finish. There were periods where UAE Team Emirates-XRG were well represented at the front through Tim Wellens, Domen Novak and Nils Politt, but the presence of eventual stage winner Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) neutralised many attacks.

With Magnier in tow, Soudal Quick-Step were determined to bring their Frenchman to the final kilometre at the head of proceedings, with the youngster noted as one of the finest sprinters in the world. As such, attacks from Wellens and others ultimately came to nothing.

Instead, all eyes for UAE Team Emirates-XRG turned to Oliveira, with the Portuguese rider having taken his first professional victory at the recent Volta a Portugal.

Their faith in Oliveira was repaid with a fast turn of pace inside the final 300m. There, the 30-year-old was only pipped to the stage 5 victory by Magnier, who picked up his fifth career win in the CRO Race.

Despite narrowly missing out on the honours, Oliveira could be satisfied with his efforts, having bravely battled over the final climb to give himself an opportunity. As for Wellens, the Belgian remains in third place overall ahead of tomorrow’s final stage. With Sunday’s stage 6 all but certain to end in a bunch sprint, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG is set to land his place on the final podium in Zagreb.

Oliveira: “There was a big part of that stage where I felt it would be tough to come to the finish in the front group. On the last climb, my legs were really on the limit and I had to fight some demons to come across the top with a closeable gap, but I was able to manage it. For this, I am really proud of my display.

“In the sprint at the end, I think everybody had a lot of lactate in the legs and it was all about who was the strongest. I can be satisifed because for sure Paul Magnier was the best rider today. He survived the climb very well and showed his strength in the sprint. I am really happy with my performance and tomorrow we can give it one last try to end what has been a fun week with the guys.”

CRO Race 2026 stage 5 results:

1. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) 3:43:19

2. Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t

3. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek) s.t

CRO Race 2026 general classification after stage 5:

1. Tobias Svarre (Uno-X Mobility) 18:22:53

2. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +4″

3. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +8″