Domen Novak's Bold Attack: How He Secured Third in the CRO Race

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-09-26

Sometimes, the best stories aren't about winning. They're about guts, timing, and the sheer will to push when everyone else is holding back. That's exactly what Domen Novak showed us on stage 4 of the CRO Race. ### The Attack That Changed Everything With 39km to go, most riders were settling into a rhythm. But Novak had other ideas. The Slovenian climber launched a decisive attack for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, catching everyone off guard. It was a move that could have gone either way—and that's what made it so thrilling. "I saw the moment and I took it," Novak said afterward. "Sometimes you have to risk everything for a chance at the podium." ### From Breakaway to Podium Novak's attack wasn't just bold—it was smart. He timed it perfectly, exploiting a lull in the peloton. A select group formed, and as the kilometers ticked down, it became clear that this break might actually stick. In the final sprint, Novak dug deep. He crossed the line in third place, a well-earned result that had his team celebrating. It was a day after Tim Wellens took third on stage 3, so the momentum was already building. ### Wellens Holds Steady While Novak was making headlines, Tim Wellens quietly retained his third place overall. With the final two stages ahead, the team is in a strong position. Wellens didn't need to attack—he just needed to stay consistent, and he did exactly that. ### What This Means for UAE Team Emirates-XRG This result isn't just about one stage. It's about depth. When you have riders like Novak and Wellens both performing at this level, it sends a message to the rest of the peloton. The team isn't relying on a single star—they have multiple cards to play. For Novak, this third-place finish is a confidence boost. He's shown he can mix it up with the best, and that's something he'll carry into the next races. ### The Road Ahead With two stages left, anything can happen. But one thing is clear: UAE Team Emirates-XRG is riding with purpose. They're not just participating—they're racing to win. And if Novak's attack taught us anything, it's that sometimes the boldest moves pay off in unexpected ways.