How a Bold 24-Mile Attack Nearly Rewrote the CRO Race Podium

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-09-26

Sometimes the best stories in cycling aren't about the winner. They're about the rider who rolls the dice, gambles everything, and comes up just short of glory. That's exactly what happened on stage 4 of the CRO Race. ### The Move That Changed Everything Domen Novak isn't a name that dominates headlines. He's a support rider for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the kind of guy who does the hard work in the mountains so the stars can shine. But with 24 miles to go, he decided it was his turn. He attacked. Just like that, the Slovenian climber was off the front, pushing solo while the peloton hesitated behind him. It was a bold, almost reckless move. And for a while, it looked like it might actually work. "You don't get many chances like that," Novak said afterward. "I saw the gap and I took it." That quote sums up why we watch this sport. It's not always about tactics and calculations. Sometimes it's about instinct and guts. ### A Day After Wellens Shone The timing made this even more interesting. Just 24 hours earlier, Tim Wellens — Novak's teammate — had finished third on stage 3. The team was riding a wave of momentum, and Novak wanted to keep it going. He did exactly that. After his attack, a select group of riders eventually caught him. But instead of fading, Novak dug deep and sprinted to third place on the stage. Not a win, but a statement. Here's what made it impressive: - He attacked with 24 miles remaining, which is an eternity in cycling - He held off the charging peloton longer than anyone expected - He still had enough left to sprint for a podium spot - Wellens kept his third place overall, giving the team two riders to watch ### Why This Matters for the Team UAE Team Emirates-XRG isn't just built around one leader. They've got depth, and stages like this prove it. When a support rider can attack, survive, and still sprint for a podium, that's a good sign for the rest of the season. Novak's ride also puts pressure on other teams. They can't just mark the main favorites anymore. They have to watch the guys who usually fly under the radar. With two stages left, the overall classification is still wide open. Wellens sits third, and Novak just showed everyone he's not afraid to shake things up. ### What Comes Next The final two stages of the CRO Race will decide everything. Wellens needs to defend his podium position. Novak? He's already proven he can surprise people. If there's one takeaway from stage 4, it's this: never count out the quiet riders. They're often the ones with the most to prove — and the least to lose. So keep an eye on the CRO Race. The next attack might come from someone you've never heard of. And that's what makes this sport so beautiful.