Domen Novak's Bold Attack Nearly Steals the Show at CRO Race

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-09-26

Sometimes the best stories aren't about the winner. They're about the guy who dared to do something different, and nearly pulled it off. That's exactly what happened at the CRO Race on stage 4, when Domen Novak decided he wasn't going to wait for the final sprint. With roughly 24 miles still to race, the Slovenian climber launched a bold attack for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. And you know what? It almost worked. ### A Day After Wellens, It Was Novak's Turn Tim Wellens had already given the team something to celebrate on stage 3, finishing third. So when Novak went clear on stage 4, the pressure was on to back it up. He did. Novak crossed the line in third place from a select group of riders, proving the team's depth goes well beyond its biggest names. Wellens, meanwhile, held onto his third place overall with just two stages remaining. ### Why This Kind of Racing Matters Attacking with 24 miles to go is a gamble. You burn matches you might need later. But it also forces everyone else to chase, and that changes the whole dynamic of the race. - It puts pressure on rival teams to respond - It gives the squad tactical options in the final kilometers - It builds momentum heading into the closing stages As Novak himself put it afterward, "You don't get many chances to go for it. When the road opens up, you take it." That mindset is exactly what separates riders who merely finish from riders who make races memorable. ### What's Next for UAE Team Emirates-XRG With two stages left, the team is sitting in a strong position. Wellens remains third overall, and the squad has shown it can animate the race from multiple angles. The question now is whether they can convert those near-misses into something bigger. A stage win would be the perfect finish. But even without one, performances like Novak's remind everyone why this team is dangerous on any terrain. Sometimes third place feels like a win. This was one of those days.