Saturday’s Istria Granfondo delivered another fast and selective race over 105 km with two ascents of the demanding Oprtalj climb. A strong four‑man move with two Slovenians, an Italian and a Croatian already made the decisive move before the first climb, quickly opening up a gap on the chasing peloton.
Slovenian Matic Groselj proved to be the fastest at the finish in Umag, winning a reduced three‑man sprint ahead of compatriot Miran Kovacic and Italy’s Alex Raimondi. Raimondi showed his strength on the climbs, leading the group over both ascents of Oprtalj. Croatian Ian Peran was part of the early breakaway but lost contact on the first climb, as the leading trio crested with a three‑minute advantage and eventually kept an eight‑second gap back to the chasers at the finish. Groselj won in an average speed of 40.8 km/h.
In the women’s race, former World Champion Laura Simenc (SLO) delivered a dominant performance. Right after the start she managed to stay as only female in a fast group of male riders, creating an early gap that would prove decisive. Simenc went on to take a convincing victory in an average speed of 37.7km/h, finishing 4 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of her compatriot Vesna Alegro Baznik, with Switzerland’s Ela Muench completing the podium at almost ten minutes.
