Croatia saw the return of “Tour of Croatia” today, an intense cycling event that covers 1,000 kilometers throughout the country. Held in six stages, Tour of Croatia participants will cycle through the country through April 23, 2017.
This year’s cycling event is more demanding than ever, and more than 20 teams are participating with cyclists from the highest rank of the World Cycling Organization (UCI). You can read more about the teams on Total Croatia Cycling.
Here’s a look at the six-stage Tour of Croatia route:
Stage One - April 18, 2017: The race began today in Osijek. The goal of the first stage was Koprivnica after cycling 227 kilometers.
Stage Two - April 19, 2017: The cycling caravan will move to Trogir where stage two will require 123 kilometers of cycling. The finish line for stage two will be Croatia’s second highest point - Sveti Jure on Biokovo (1,762 meters).
Stage Three - April 20, 2017: The third stage will take place between Imotski and Zadar, requiring 236 kilometers of cycling.
Stage Four - April 21, 2017: Stage four will connect Crikvenica and Umag and require 171 kilometers of cycling.
Stage Five - April 22, 2017: The fifth stage, which is 141 kilometers long, will begin in Poreč. Cyclists are expected to reach Učka mountain as their stage-five destination, which will require climbing Učka from both the Istrian and Kvarner side.
Stage Six - April 23, 2017: Cyclists will embark on the final stage of the journey in Samobor and finish in Zagreb at St. Mark’s Square.
Another wonderful aspect of the tour is that it is broadcast around the world, giving massive international visibility and promotion for the race and for Croatia as a whole.
The race is directly transmitted by HRT, Eurosport and Eurosport Asia, with evening broadcasts and summaries of the most exciting moments of each stage. The tour is also broadcast on numerous television stations throughout 6 continents including Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia - some of which will transmit the tour live. Thus, the image of Croatia is seen by viewers in 177 countries around the world!
Cyclists crossed the finish line in Koprivnica moments ago for the completion of stage one.
Congratulations to the winner of stage 1 Sacha Modolo from UAE Team Emirates! The tour returns tomorrow for stage 2 in Trogir.
Tour of Croatia is one of the most important sporting events of the year in Croatia, as well as a unique tourist product for the country. The demanding race brings many benefits, including the promotion of Croatia’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, economic potential, and the cities and regions through which it passes. The tour has become an important part of Croatia’s overall tourism offer and a major accelerator for the development of cyclotourism in the country. This year is set to be the most exciting yet!
Stay tuned for daily updates on the race.
