The German professional cycling team Lidl-Trek is competing in the 11th edition of the CRO Race, having arrived in Croatia with six riders. The team’s aim is a stage win with Tim, who, according to the team, is ready. Lidl-Trek also has riders who will attempt to break away, and the team will play an important role in the overall classification.
Lidl-Trek’s sporting director, Bernie Eisle, stated that the team aims to achieve a top-five finish with Lenny. The list of participants in the CRO Race is very strong, with the greatest challenge, he says, being to keep pedalling while surrounded by beautiful scenery. Lidl-Trek rode in the vicinity of Split yesterday, and in the coming days will pass through Croatian islands and beautiful tourist destinations. Each day of the CRO Race will be beautiful and sunny, with perfect conditions this year.
The most important stage for the overall classification is the third, and possibly the fourth, stage. The third stage features a short finish on a climb, with a very steep ascent near the finish. The fourth stage includes the climb over the Učka, one of the longer ascents in Croatia and one of the recognisable features of the CRO Race, after which the descent towards the coast follows. The third and fourth stages are likely to be the decisive stages of the race.
The battle at the CRO Race takes place every day, and the outcome could be decided by breakaway attempts. The team says the tactic is quite simple, as they have all the necessary information. The race is well balanced.
The second and sixth stages are sprint stages, the first stage encourages riders to attack in the final stretch, while the third and fourth stages suit riders competing for the general classification in the overall standings. The fifth stage is traditionally well-suited to breakaways. This is a well-balanced stage race, and the main strength of Lidl-Trek in this race is likely to be their unity.
Lidl-Trek has only six riders, as one, unfortunately, fell ill and will not be at the start. All of Lidl-Trek’s riders have had a good series of races and are definitely in good form, arriving at the CRO Race after these performances. The team, which normally has 65 riders from 18 different countries, spends more than 250 days a year on races around the world.
Edward Theuns, a Belgian cyclist in the ranks of Lidl-Trek, raced at the CRO Race in 2016 and remembers the small paved uphill finish on the last stage in Zagreb. He really enjoyed that finish, and considers Zagreb a beautiful city. It will be great to race in Zagreb again, and the atmosphere by the roadside makes a big difference. If people cheer and there is a sense of atmosphere, it always makes every effort feel a little more beautiful and motivating, concluded Theuns.
